Accurate data is essential for sound decision-making. Malaysia’s Chief Statistician, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, says the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) is working to make data more engaging and relevant by breaking it down into meaningful insights for the public.
Twentytwo13 recently sat down with Malaysia’s Chief Statistician, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, to discuss DOSM’s role in assisting policymakers and making the data more accessible to the public.
Twentytwo13: What are your responsibilities as the Chief Statistician of Malaysia?
Uzir: My role is to lead DOSM and ensure that the data required by the country – whether for the government, the people, or businesses – is effectively provided. This data supports planning and decision-making. As Chief Statistician, I must equip myself with the necessary skills in economic and social statistics.
Twentytwo13: How does DOSM assist the policymakers in Malaysia?
Uzir: Statistics are used to help the country achieve greater prosperity and ensure that everyone is well looked after. For example, it is my responsibility to provide accurate data on vulnerable or underserved populations. I do this by assigning data by geography and location – pinpointing which city, town, or village needs the most help. This will directly impact the allocation of public funds.
It is crucial to know which areas require assistance in terms of security, the economy, and public welfare. The aim is to produce more granular and comprehensive statistics for better insight. The government’s goal is to help citizens spend their money wisely. And with better statistics, we can improve the country’s economic planning and development.
Twentytwo13: There is a saying that data never lies, but it can also be manipulated. Your thoughts on this?
Uzir: It doesn’t matter whether the statistics are good or bad, as long as they are presented accurately. Providing only positive statistics isn’t right because the government of the day wouldn’t be able to make sound decisions based on inaccurate or incomplete information.
Any good government must have access to both positive and negative statistics to make informed decisions, whether that involves improving employment rates or addressing other challenges.
Making the right decisions to help the people will result in greater confidence in the government. This is similar to taking a person’s temperature – if it is accurate, a doctor can treat the illness. But if the information is false, the doctor won’t know what action to take.
The only positive outcome of recent government changes is that politicians now recognise the importance of statistics. Those in the opposition, who were once in government, understand this too.
Twentytwo13: Last year, there was criticism when a household income of RM13,000 was considered a T15 group. Can you explain how this figure was calculated?
Uzir: The figure is based on the 2022 Household Income & Expenditure Surveys (HIES). The survey is carried out at least twice in a rolling five-year period to produce representative data regarding income, poverty and access to basic amenities for Malaysian households.
However, since then, Malaysia’s economy grew by 5.1 per cent (2023: 3.6 per cent) in 2024, with a value of RM1.93 trillion at current prices and RM1.65 trillion at constant prices. Additionally, Gross National Income per capita increased by 3.6 per cent to RM54,894 from a marginal decrease of 0.2 per cent (RM52,991) in 2023.
Historically, DOSM has released GDP and per capita data (e.g., a GDP of RM1.5 trillion divided by population). This is a valuable yardstick to understand household income distribution, such as Malaysia’s 34 million people across 9 million households, each with an average of 3.2 people per household.
We also measure disposable income, which can vary greatly by region. For example, renting a house in one area may differ from another.
We have since revised the calculations by introducing the MyPAKW (Basic Expenses for Decent Living Calculator), which is expected to be more accurate.
Twentytwo13: Many people don’t fully understand statistics. How is DOSM changing this perspective?
Uzir: Statistics can be a dry or boring subject for many. This underutilisation of statistics means we need to educate more people on how to use and interpret data. Statistics are no longer dry or boring – they are essential tools for understanding and improving the world around us.
We must become better storytellers and communicate the data effectively. We do this by giving the people a more meaningful connection to the statistics they are trying to understand.
For instance, when we provide statistics on the cost of living, we do so by breaking them down not just by state, but by district.
That way, the people have a better understanding and would be more willing to read more.
If we were to generate a general report using state-by-state data, some people might argue that the figures are not accurate. But by breaking it down and showing them the differences within their states, they can better understand the cost of living in one area compared to another.
The younger generation may struggle with this, but understanding statistics is essential for navigating today’s complex world. The more literate we become in statistics, the better we can make informed decisions.
Twentytwo13: Are there any other tools DOSM provides the government to help the people?
Uzir: We have produced 222 books for each Parliamentary constituency in Malaysia and more than 600 books for the state assemblymen.
In each book, we provide the necessary information that the people’s representatives can use to assist the public. For example, in some areas, the death rate or school closures may be more prevalent. In regions with high crime rates, unemployment might be the contributing factor. Statistics help us understand these issues better and allow us to compare data such as wage differences across regions.
The data provides feedback on market profiles, helping businesses understand things like the number of laundromats or youth populations in an area.
By educating the people at the top, we hope they would then use the data to help the people they were elected to serve.
Twentytwo13: How has the statistical system adapted to changes in technology over the years?
Uzir: The idea of a ‘one size fits all’ approach is outdated. Now we must produce data for the targeted audience. As mentioned, it is not just providing data for one particular state but breaking that information down to each district so it reaches the relevant people as well.
Statistics are like navigating Waze – if there’s a traffic jam, you find another route. Similarly, you can use statistics to find solutions.
Twentytwo13: Can you tell us about your recent trip to New York for the 56th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission?
Uzir: The UN Statistics Commission is involved in gathering data to assess and discuss global issues like economic development, social progress, and environmental challenges. Data from these discussions guide decisions on everything from poverty and hunger to deforestation and carbon emissions.
Statistical differences are viewed from various perspectives in regions like Asean, Europe, Africa, and beyond. Rating agencies assess countries’ financial health based on this data, which in turn influences interest rates and investment decisions. I was there to share data on behalf of Asean.
