Page 19 - 60 Years Generating National Statistics

Chronology
History of the Department:
1965 The Statistics Act, 1965 was passed by the
Akta Perangkaan 1965 (Disemak-1989)
Statistics Act 1965 (Revised – 1989)
However, the documentation of a systematic data collection
can be traced as early as the setting up of the Bureau of Statistics.
These include the Population Census Report for the Straits
Settlement 1891 encompassing the Cocos Island and Christmas
Island compiled by the British Government then. Subsequently, a
series of Population Census reports were published for the years
1901,1911,1921,1931 and 1947 and for each year the scope
varied.
The earliest known record of economic statistics was data on
foreign trade compiled by the Customs Department, Singapore
in the 1930’s. Transactions on the revenue of commodities such
as rubber, spices, tin and coal were deemed relevant to the
needs of the British Government at that time. Post World War
II, external trade data collection was extended to cover the
Federation of Malaya by way of the Central Trade Registry of
the Customs Department, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur. Under the
Customs Ordinance, a copy of the customs declaration was
given to the Central Trade Registry whereby external trade 1971 - With the increased work load, PGLs were
1972
statistics was compiled.
1973 The establishment of PO Sarikei, Sarawak
1974 - PGL Alor Setar, Melaka and Kuala Trengganu
1975 was established. PGL Melaka covered
Jabatan Perangkaan Cawangan Sarawak
Department of Statistics, Sarawak Branch
Parliament and the Statistics Ordinance 1949
was repealed. Under this Act, the Bureau of
Statistics was to be known as the Department
of Statistics. The new act was more
comprehensive and it further strengthened
the authority of the Department to collect
statistics.
The Bureau of Statistics, Sarawak and the
Department of Statistics, Sabah became
branches of the Department of Statistics,
Malaysia.
The Headquarters comprised 12 divisions as
follows:
- Administration Division;
- Coordination Division;
- Data Processing Division;
- Industry Division;
- National Income Division;
- Trade Division;
- Sample and Field Operation Division;
- Household Survey Division;
- Income and Prices Division;
- Agriculture Survey Division;
- Population and Demography Division; and
- Analysis Division.
At that time, the first Regional Field Centre
(PGL) was Field Centre Unit 1 (KL1) which
covered the districts of Petaling Jaya, Klang,
Banting, Sepang, Seremban, Port Dickson
and Jelebu. Meanwhile, Field Centre Unit 2
(KL2) covered Kuala Lumpur, Tanjung Malim,
Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Bentong,
Raub and Lipis.
1968 Operational Centre (PO) for the first group
which comprised PO Tawau and Sandakan
of Sabah Branch were set up. The objectives
of the PO were to strengthen and improve
the system of data collection at state level.
1970 The Headquarters in Brickfields was relocated
to Wisma Statistik, Jalan Young (Chenderasari),
Kuala Lumpur.
The establishment of PO Miri and Sibu,
Sarawak Branch.
established in Kuala Lumpur, Georgetown
and Ipoh to increase the efficiency in data
collection in the states concerned.
PGLs were established in Kuantan, Johor
Bahru and Kota Bharu. PGL Kuantan covered
the major part of Pahang (except West
Pahang) and part of Terengganu. PGL Johor
Bahru covered Johore, Melaka and part
of Negeri Sembilan while PGL Kota Bharu
covered Kelantan and part of Terengganu.
Branch.
Melaka State and the districts of Rembau,
Tampin, Kuala Pilah, Muar, Segamat and
Batu Pahat. PGL Alor Setar covered Perlis
while PGL Ipoh covered Cameron Highlands.
PGL Kuala Terengganu covered the state of
Terengganu.
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