‘The public must ensure that the information provided is accurate and complete,’ said Census 2020 commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
AS Census 2020 will conclude on Oct 31, the last five days of the month will be a “cooling off’ period, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2020 commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the census began last year on July 7, during a time that is different and more challenging as compared to previous years.
With the Covid-19 pandemic raging across the nation, Census 2020 implementation underwent several scheduling and operational adjustments.
Holding face-to-face interviews was out of the question due to movement restriction and had to be rescheduled four times – in July and October last year, and January and June this year.
The census however continued smoothly online, via e-Census, and through the Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI).
“With increasing vaccination rates and states transitioning to Phases 3 or 4 under the National Recovery Plan, face-to-face and targeted interviews were able to resume, especially during this month’s ‘mopping week’,” said Mohd Uzir.
Face-to-face interviews adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are approved by the Health Ministry and the National Security Council.
The strategy will ensure all Malaysians are surveyed in Census 2020 until the last date of operations on Oct 31.
Census 2020 highlights
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Malaysians have been cooperative in taking part in Census 2020.
As of Oct 26, the census registered a total of 31.8 million Malaysians surveyed, just about 97.6% out of the total estimated population of 32.6 million in 2020.
In terms of residences, 9.4 million or 100.2% out of an estimated 9.4 million were covered in Census 2020.
Meanwhile, 7.7 million or 93.9% out of 8.2 million households have completed the census questionnaire.
Based on the latest status, Census 2020 operations in Kelantan, Johor and Putrajaya are almost complete and the process to validate and verify the information is underway.
By district, the highest percentage of respondents hail from Samarahan (121.3%), Muallim (116.8%), Gombak (113.3%), Sepang (113.1%) and Seremban (112.5%).
The lowest districts in Peninsular Malaysia to respond are from Lipis (71.5%), Bera (76.6%), Maran (77.3%), Kuala Krai (77.5%) and Rompin (79.6%).
In Sarawak and Sabah, these districts include Telang Usan (38.4%), Betong (39.9%), Song (42.2%) and Belaga (47.1%).
In terms of gender, the ratio showed 106 males for every 100 females in Malaysia, which in percentage records males at 51.5%, higher than females which stands at 48.5%.
Based on the census data, the Malaysian population comprises 91.8% citizens and 8.2% non-citizens.
The ethnic breakdown shows bumiputera at 69.4%, Chinese at 23.1%, Indians at 6.7%, and others at 0.8%.
Of the population of 31.8 million, 25.6% are aged 0-14 years, while 69.1% are of a working age of 15-64 years and 5.3% are aged 65 years and above. The highest number of senior citizens aged 65 years and above is in Perlis at 9.7%.
The highest working age population aged 15-64 years is centred in Kuala Lumpur at 73.6%, while Putrajaya recorded the highest percentage of those aged 0-14 years, at 36.5%.
Among the residential institutions covered in Census 2020 are medical institutions such as hospitals and nurses’ dormitories, places of higher learning, religious and welfare institutions (old folks homes, orphanages and more) and prisons.
To ensure that no one is left behind, a census for the homeless was carried out in Selangor, Kelantan, Sarawak and Perlis on Oct 23, while on Oct 27, DOSM Kuala Lumpur covered Rumah Transit, Dang Wangi and Anjung Singgah, Chow Kit.
Push for completion
With an estimated remaining population of 0.8 million or 2.4% that are still not surveyed.
As of Oct 26 the Malay population has exceeded the 2020 estimate with more than 25,588 (+0.2%).
Meanwhile the Chinese and Indians have not reached the estimated with respectively 15,200 (0.2%) and 83,148 (4.1%) still remaining.
Mohd Uzir urged Malaysians to fully cooperate in completing Census 2020.
Malaysians are also advised to take advantage of the data released by the Department of Statistics which is the key to leveraging research.
“The public must ensure that the information provided is accurate and complete,” Mohd Uzir said.
“This is important to ensure that the country’s development strategy is based on accurate information obtained from the public.”
Census 2020 will represent an inclusive and comprehensive population database, namely the Malaysia Statistical Population Register (MSPR) and the Malaysia Statistical Address Register (MSAR).
