Kuala lumpur: Medan Selera Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi: The informal sector, which includes hawkers, petty traders, food entrepreneurs, and farmers' market traders, is the primary focus of the Economic Census 2026 (BE 2026), which began yesterday and will run until Oct 31, 2026. Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin stated that priority is given to the informal sector to ensure economic activities that were previously difficult to track are not left out of the country's official data.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Uzir expressed gratitude to all collaborators and confirmed that the census is progressing smoothly. Observations on data from about 5,000 respondents were completed on the first day alone. The initial stage of the census targets small businesses, entrepreneurs, and traders who do not have official accounts, aiming to cover about 300,000 respondents nationwide, including hawkers, petty traders, food entrepreneurs, and micro businesses.
Mohd Uzir highlighted the rapid growth of the informal sector, driven by social media and digital platforms, allowing many entrepreneurs to operate small businesses while actively generating income. Despite operating informally, these businesses contribute significantly to the economy, using social media to enhance their reach. He also confirmed that the gig economy, including influencers and content creators, is part of BE 2026 to provide a comprehensive picture of the country's economy.
The census has been strengthened with a new module on the digital economy and the use of technology, designed to assess the level of digital adoption among micro and informal entrepreneurs. The data collected will serve as a basis for setting new economic benchmarks and aiding government and agencies in formulating more accurate support policies for the informal sector. Identifying supply gaps, constraints, and real needs of small entrepreneurs will ensure targeted assistance and policies.
BE 2026 is the sixth census in Malaysia since 2001 and will employ the 2025 Malaysia Standard Industrial Classification (MSIC), covering five sectors, 17 sections, and 1,216 industries. This updated classification reflects changes in the economy, including innovation-based industries, sustainable energy, information technology, and the digital economy.
The census aligns with national development goals and supports key policies, including the 13th Malaysia Plan, the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, the Digital Economy Agenda, Industry 4.0, the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and the Bumiputera Economic Strategic Plan 2035. For the first time, it will include the informal sector, such as food vendors, market traders, small retail shops, transport operators, homestays, tuition centres, and mobile micro businesses, all of which play a significant role in the local economy, especially in planned urban areas like Putrajaya.