The Department of Statistics Malaysia is finalising documents and strengthening coordination to ensure a smooth transition to the new legal framework.
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) is stepping up preparations to implement the Statistics Bill 2026, including finalising implementation documents and strengthening coordination with relevant ministries and agencies.
The Office of the Chief Statistician said in a statement today that the current focus is to ensure a smooth transition to the new legal framework through the preparation of implementation instruments, inter-agency coordination and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
“DOSM is responsible for translating the provisions of the law into clear and practical implementation mechanisms.
“These preparations will be carried out in phases involving ministries, agencies and sectoral data owners to ensure that every organisation understands its respective roles and responsibilities,” the statement said.
It said supporting documents, including standing instructions, circulars and guidelines related to the management of national statistics, are being finalised.
The statement said the documents will set out the roles of the parties involved, coordination methods, responsibilities in data management and the mechanisms to be followed in the production of official statistics.
“The preparation of these implementation documents will also ensure that procedures adopted by ministries and agencies are clear, uniform and comply with legal requirements, data security and prevailing governance principles,” it said.
It added that a communication plan has been prepared to explain the Bill’s key provisions, its implications for data users and providers, and its benefits to the public.
The Statistics Bill 2026 was passed by the Dewan Rakyat last Wednesday to modernise the country’s statistical legal framework by replacing the Statistics Act 1965 (Revised 1989).
It provides a more comprehensive legal basis to strengthen coordination of the National Statistical System, improve governance and official data sharing, and enhance data protection in line with the needs of the current data ecosystem.
The Bill was drafted based on recommendations, guidelines and international best practices issued by the United Nations (UN), the UN Statistical Commission and the UN Economic Commission for Europe.
