Page 21 - 60 Years Generating National Statistics

The Department of Agriculture was responsible for the Chronology
collection of data in the agriculture sector. Among the earliest History of the Department:
comprehensive record was data on rubber estates for
the Federated Malay States, Unfederated Malay States 1975 Cadre officer was attached to the Department
and the Straits Settlements in 1931. Data collection was of Agriculture to assist in statistical work.
interrupted during the Second World War (1941-1945) 1976 The establishment of PO Sri Aman, Sarawak
and only resumed in 1946. The collection of trade data in Branch.
Sarawak and Sabah began in the early 1930’s under the British 1977 The establishment of PO Limbang, Sarawak
Colony of North Borneo. This function was handed over Branch.
to the Customs Department of Sarawak and Sabah in 1945 1978 The establishment of PO Bintulu, Sarawak
and in 1953 respectively. Branch.

1982 The establishment of the last PGL in Seremban
After Independence in 1957, statistical information for the to cover the state of Negeri Sembilan.
nation was needed for national development. A committee 1983 All PGLs were upgraded to State Branch
was appointed on 5 March 1960 by the Federal Government Offices led by the Head of Branch.
to consider and recommend the future development of
statistical services in government. This committee was 1988 The Department’s first Corporate Plan for the
period 1988 - 1992 was drawn up.
chaired by Y.M. Raja Tan Sri Mohar bin Raja Badiozaman.
This was the first time such a study was done and the 1989 Following the Corporate Plan, DOS was
restructured into four main sectors:
recommendations of the committee formed the basis for
the future development of the statistical services in the Economic Development Sector
• Primary Industries Division
Government. • Industries and Services Division
• Enterprise Statistics and Prices Division
• External Trade and Balance of Payments
In 1963, Malaysia was formed comprising the Federation of Division
Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. This brought about the unification • National Accounts Division
of the statistical services of the Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Common User Services Sector
and Sarawak under the purview of the Bureau of Statistics. • General Management Division
At that time, the Department of Statistics, Sabah was under • Computer Services Division
the purview of the State Financial Secretary’s Office while the Support Services Sector
Bureau of Statistics, Sarawak was under the purview of the • Communications and Operations Division
State Secretariat. • Statistical Development Division
Human Resources Sector
• Demography Division
• Socio-Economic Development Division
1990 PO Kulim of Kedah Branch, PO Taiping of
Perak Branch and PO Muar of Johor Branch
were established.
1993 The objectives outlined in the second
Corporate Plan 1993-1997 were implemented
to enhance strategic management. Thus,
the divisions in the Headquarters were
restructured as follows:
• National Accounts Division was split into two
divisions, National Accounts Division and
Economic Indicators Division;
• Socio-Economic Development Division
became Household Income and
Expenditure Division and Manpower and
Social Division;
• Demography Division was split into two
divisions, Population and Housing Census
Division and Demographic Division;
• External Trade and Balance of Payments
Division was split into External Trade Division
and Balance of Payments Division; and

• Industries and Services Division was split into
Industries Division and Services Division.

Wisma Statistik Jalan Young (Chenderasari)

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