Improving Agricultural Statistics in the COMCEC Region
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3.5 Malaysia
Malaysia, with a population of over 30 million, is divided into 16 states, further divided into
144 districts. Malaysia has one of the most developed agricultural statistics systems in the East
Asia and Pacific region. According to the World Bank Statistical Capacity Indicator of 2013, it
ranks fifth in the region after the Philippines, Mongolia, Indonesia and Thailand. While the
institutional infrastructure for the collection, analysis and dissemination of agricultural
statistics is relatively good, there are some gaps within the production of sufficient statistical
information and the lack of best practices regarding statistical methods. In terms of statistical
methods and practices, analysis and the use of data, specialized agricultural surveys, and
agricultural price information are not at the desired level. With regard to the availability of
statistical information, there are still areas requiring improvement to produce agricultural
statistics of high quality. However, Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DOSM) has expanded its
work programme to include the compilation of Supply Utilization Accounts (SUA), Agricultural
Indicators and Agro-Based Industries principal statistics recognizing the importance of these
areas in relation to food security and employment.
The agricultural statistics system only partially meets the needs of national and international
researchers and policymakers. While the statistical system uses the most up-to-date
methodologies and technologies to the extent of the resources available, there is still a gap
between the supply and demand of agricultural statistics.
i. Organization of the Agricultural Statistics System
The Legal Framework: The Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DOSM) was established in
1949 under the Statistics Ordinance 1949, formerly known as the Bureau of Statistics. The
Statistics Ordinance 1949 was replaced by the Statistics Act 1965. Under this Act, the Bureau of
Statistics was known as the Department of Statistics, headed by the Chief Statistician.87 The
Statistics Act 1965 was revised in 1989, and the functions of the Department are explicitly
defined under Section 2(2):
“The functions of the Department shall be to collect and interpret statistics for the purpose of
furnishing information required in the formation or carrying out the Government policy in any
field or otherwise required for Government purposes or for meeting the needs of trade,
commerce, industry or agriculture (including forestry, fishing and hunting). The Statistics Act,
1965 (revised in 1989) and Census Act, 1960 (revised in 1969) provide the legal basis for
statistical activities in the country in general. The executive agency for statistical activities in
general is Department of Statistics, Malaysia and the legal basis is operational.”
There is also a legal basis for the collection of agricultural statistics, which is operational and
fully adequate. The agencies for agricultural statistics specified under the law are:
 Department of Statistics, Malaysia (DOSM)
 Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry (agro food) (MOA)
87 DOSM, 2014b.