DOSM elected to chair Asean statistics working group for 2026–2027
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) has been unanimously elected as chair of the Working Group on Data Sharing, Analysis, Dissemination and Communication of Statistics (WGDSA) for the 2026–2027 term.
The decision was made at the 23rd Meeting of the WGDSA (WGDSA23), which began yesterday in Putrajaya. The two-day meeting brought together 18 delegates from Asean Member States (AMS) and the Asean Secretariat (Aseanstats), with Myanmar participating virtually.
The gathering aimed to strengthen regional statistical cooperation, enhance data transparency and improve communication strategies under the ASEAN Community Statistical System (ACSS).
Chief statistician and ACSS15 chairman, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, said in a statement today that the appointment reflected the continued trust of member states in Malaysia's active role in advancing the Asean statistical system.
He reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity and resilience in the regional statistical ecosystem, stressing the importance of accessible, reliable and timely statistics in supporting evidence-based policymaking and Asean's integration and development goals.
"As we move forward together, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that statistics are communicated clearly, shared meaningfully and used effectively to support Asean's progress.
"Malaysia, as Asean chair for 2025, remains committed to promoting statistical cooperation, capacity building and innovation across the region," he said.
Discussions at the meeting focused on the implementation of the WGDSA Multi-Year Plan (MYP), expansion of the Asean Statistical Indicators – Consolidated Template (ASI-CT), integration of Application Programming Interfaces (API) for real-time data access, and increased statistical outreach through initiatives such as the Asean Virtual Learning Academy and targeted awareness programmes.
Mohd Uzir said the meeting also discussed enhancements to the ASICT data collection template for indicators in areas such as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the manufacturing sector, inflation, population and employment.
A key milestone of WGDSA23 was the presentation of Malaysia's preliminary 2025 Action Plan for the Awareness Initiative - an ACSS Annual Priority under the Asean Economic Community (AEC) reporting framework.
"The initiative was previously endorsed by the Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) at the 14th Session of the Asean Community Statistical System (ACSS14) in Laos.
"As the lead country, Malaysia announced the formation of a dedicated Task Force on Statistical Awareness and Engagement under WGDSA to spearhead its implementation," he said.
The outcomes of WGDSA23 will directly inform the ACSS Action Plan 2026–2030, aligned with the broader Asean Community's post-2025 vision, reinforcing the role of statistics in regional integration and policy development.
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