The latest census data indicated that the Malaysian population stood at 91.8% or 29.2m citizens, and 8.2% or 2.6m non-citizens

by NUR HANANI AZMAN / pic by TMR FILE

A TOTAL of 31.8 million or 97.6% of Malaysians from 32.6 million total estimated population in 2020 have been accounted for as of yesterday through Banci Penduduk dan Perumahan Malaysia 2020 (Census 2020).

Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said a total of 9.4 million or 100.2% of the estimated 9.4 million residences have been covered in the national census exercise and 7.7 million or 93.9% of 8.2 million households have answered Census questions.

Based on the latest status, census operations in Kelantan, Johor and Putrajaya were nearing completion and in the process of information validation and verification.

“By district, the percentage of response recorded was the highest in Samarahan, Sarawak (121.3%), Muallim, Perak (116.8%), Gombak, Selangor (113.3%), Sepang, Selangor (113.1%) and Seremban, Negri Sembilan (112.5%).

“The percentage of the population counted by district in Peninsular Malaysia was the lowest in Lipis, Pahang (71.5%), Bera, Pahang (76.6%), Maran, Pahang (77.3%), Kuala Krai, Kelantan (77.5%) and Rompin, Pahang (79.6%),” he told reporters during a virtual briefing yesterday.

He revealed that the male population recorded stood at 51.5% or 16.4 million individuals, higher than the percentage of the female population recorded at 48.5% or 15.4 million individuals.

“The latest census data indicated that the Malaysian population stood at 91.8% or 29.2 million citizens, and 8.2% or 2.6 million non-citizens.

“Malaysian citizens consisted of ethnic groups or Bumiputera (69.4% or 20.2 million individuals), Chinese (23.1% or 6.8 million), Indians (6.7% or 2 million) and others (0.8% or 230,000),” he said.

To make sure no one was left behind, a census for the homeless people in Selangor, Kelantan, Sarawak and Perlis was held on Oct 23, while DOSM Kuala Lumpur will conduct a census against homeless people at Rumah Transit, Dang Wangi and Anjung Singgah, Chow Kit today.

As of Monday, the remaining population estimated still uncounted is 0.8 million or 2.4%.

Mohd Uzir highlighted that DOSM will share full information on Census 2020 once the census period ends on Oct 31, 2021.

“All residents are called upon to ensure the success of Census 2020. This effort is to ensure ‘everyone is counted for’ and ‘no one is left behind’.

“The public needs to make sure the information provided is accurate and complete. This is important to ensure national development strategies are formulated based on the information obtained from the public,” he concluded.