Jeli: The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has entered the second phase of the Economic Census 2026 nationwide, covering medium- and large-sized companies, Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said. He stated that more than 500,000 census coverage exercises have been conducted so far across 35 key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Uzir noted that DOSM had completed the census for small companies and is now focusing on medium- and large-scale industries and businesses. "We aim to release the operational data as early as the end of this year for the benefit of all parties," he mentioned to reporters after attending the MD Jeli Stats Nature Half Marathon 2026 at Padang Istiadat Jeli.

He explained that the Economic Census is vital in assisting the government to formulate and strengthen the country's economy. The findings will serve as a benchmark and evaluation tool for agencies and ministries to assess which sectors have expanded and which still need attention. For instance, if the government targets 30 percent skilled labor, the Economic Census data will provide details on skilled manpower and related sectors.

Meanwhile, Mohd Uzir highlighted that Malaysia's national statistical system has now been ranked first in the world among 167 countries, an improvement from the 67th position previously. "Malaysia is now leading global statistics, and we will continue to strengthen the production of statistics to support the country's economic development," he added.