Statistics Dept's trial online population census commences

The Statistics Department is conducting a trial census in preparation for the 2020 Population and Housing Census by utilising technology in data collection.

Chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the trial, which will use the online self-listing system, e-census, computer-assisted personal interviews and computer-assisted telephone interviews, began yesterday at selected residences nationwide, and will end on Aug 7.

“The use of intelligent character recognition technology will be considered in the implementation of the census this time to ensure data processing is fast and effective.

“Meanwhile, the Statistics Data Warehouse was also developed as an effort to strengthen the statistical governance system covering the aspects of distribution, archive, access to microdata and aggregate data that can be used for the Census 2020 implementation,” he said.

Uzir was speaking at the Negeri Sembilan Population Seminar, which was launched by Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun.

He described the method as timely as the approach was appropriate for the Generation Z target group, who are mostly known to be technology-savvy.

- Bernama