(Excerpts from Malaysia’s Country Statement at the 49th Session of The Commission On Population And Development 11 – 15 April 2016, New York)
Reliable and timely demographic evidence is essential for planning and implementing interventions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to monitor progress towards it’s achievements. This requires efforts to integrate disaggregated demographic and other data sources via geo-referencing and leveraging the use of ICT to disseminate information through interactive online databases.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has been responsible for undertaking the National Population and Housing Censuses of Malaysia every 10 years since 1970. The Census remains the main source of data collection aimed at providing a comprehensive set of statistical information about the population, social and economic characteristics of the country. The census provides essential information not only for policy development and planning, but also for managing, monitoring and evaluating programmes and activities across a broad spectrum of sectors. With increasing individual privacy and accessibility of internet, the e-Census, an internet based questionnaire for data collection which was introduced in 2010 was found to be more effective in capturing respondents who live in urban areas and gated communities
In addition to the census, Malaysia also has a comprehensive civil registration system. The National Registration Department is responsible for registration and issuance of birth and death certificates. Birth certificate are needed for utilization of maternal and child health services, school enrolment, application for personal identity cards, and passport, and for many other identification purposes. Information on birth, mortality and fertility rates which are important for planning and development of national policies is available through annually published vital statistics reports.
With increasing individual privacy and accessibility of internet, the e-Census, an internet based questionnaire for data collection which was introduced in 2010 was found to be more effective in capturing respondents who lives in urban areas and gated communities
The Ministry of Health meanwhile collects and publishes more detailed information on utilization of maternal and child health services, deaths and causes of death through the Health Management Information System. To date, there has been a significant decline in maternal mortality from 540 per 100,000 live births in 1957 to 25.2 per 100,000 in 2013, due to the comprehensive and efficient health care system, especially with the introduction of the colour coding system to identify high risk mothers.
Apart from the population censuses and the vital registration system, several large-scale demographic household surveys have also been carried out by other agencies in the country. These surveys, which are conducted with the view to monitor changes within the general population and the family institution, provide vital inputs for planning, particularly for the preparation of the national and state development plans. The Household Income Survey (HIS) which has been conducted by the Department of Statistics since 1973 aims to measure the economic well-being of the population using income distribution pattern of households classified by various socio-economic characteristics. This survey also helps the government to identify the low-income groups by collecting information such as basic household amenities and study the effects of the implementation of national development programmes.
Malaysia will also further improve the availability of online interactive databases and access to geo-referenced datasets disaggregated by relevant characteristics such as income, gender, age, ethnicity and disability, to ensure that no one is left behind.
Another major study, the Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS) has been carried out every ten years since 1974 by the National Population and Family Development Board (NPFDB), the latest being the MPFS-5 conducted in 2014 to collect time series data on the population, family and reproductive health of Malaysians. This information will then serve as a critical input for formulation of effective socio-economic development policies, strategies and programmes. Other large scale demographic household surveys are the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) carried out by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. NHMS provides community-based data on the pattern of common health problems, health service utilisation and health expenditure in the community. This will then help the Ministry of Health to review the priorities of the national health programme, planning for future allocation of resources and evaluate the impact of strategies, programmes, services and utilization.
While there has been marked improvement in the collection, analysis and dissemination of demographic data, many gaps remain with regards to the coverage of certain population related sectors. Measurement of migration, particularly at the sub-national levels, is one of the areas least covered. As information or data in possession are usually in the form of aggregated data, more micro information should be made available for planning purposes. Specific demographic and socio-economic research is clearly needed to enable programmes planner to take into account the needs of their intended beneficiaries, especially the young women, aged, disadvantaged and other less empowered groups.
In Malaysia, the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda has obtained the highest political commitment at the national level and has continuously involved multi-stake holders engagement under the 11th Malaysia development plans (2016-2020). Malaysia will also further improve the availability of online interactive databases and access to geo-referenced datasets disaggregated by relevant characteristics such as income, gender, age, ethnicity and disability, to ensure that no one is left behind.
Download: Popinfo Issue 1 /2016
