FROM the experience of dealing with the health and economic consequences of Covid-19, the government has learnt that statistics can help ensure that there is food on every Malaysian’s table, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed.

“For example, in providing help to the people, we need a much more robust data mechanism to track micro, small and medium enterprises as well as those living under the poverty line.

“Statistics can help us ensure that there is food on every Malaysian’s table,” he said when delivering his opening remarks virtually at the 8th Malaysia Statistics Conference  2021 in Kuala Lumpur today.

Mustapa said the epidemic had enhanced the importance of statistics as the latest information on unemployment and inflation are often required, whether on a weekly or monthly basis.

“Statistics, as they say, do not lie,” he said.

To meet the people’s expectations, he said there is a need for the rapid and transparent dissemination of data to the public.

Touching on the 2020 Malaysian population and housing census (Census 2020), Mustapa said that as at October 14, 2021, 90% of the population have been covered in the census.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) remains committed to completing it by end of this month, he added.

Census 2020 was supposed to be completed by October 24 but had to be postponed because of the epidemic.

Themed “Navigating Resilient Recovery Through Statistics”, the 8th MyStats is held simultaneously with the World Statistics Day Celebration.

Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said this year’s theme coincides with the world situation today which is in the recovery phase from the epidemic. – Bernama, October 20, 2021.