Latest news with #StatisticsDepartment
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Nga: Landscape sector set to boost government coffers
PUTRAJAYA: More than just aesthetics and improving quality of life, the landscape industry is set to contribute to the economic development, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming ( pic ). He said that the industry is expected to contribute 3% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), equal to about RM60bil, by 2030. He added that in 2024, the industry contributed RM39.4bil or 2% to GDP, an increase compared with RM35.68bil in 2023. 'Under the new National Landscape Policy, we aim for the landscape industry to contribute up to 3% or about RM60bil in 2030,' he told reporters after the National Landscape Day 2025 soft-launch event here yesterday. Nga added that based on data from the Statistics Department (DOSM), there are 24 types of landscape-related industries identified under the Malaysian Standard Industrial Classification codes. 'At the same time, the Agriculture Census 2024 by DOSM showed that the number of agricultural holdings for flower planting and landscape plants recorded a total of 113 agricultural holdings covering about 45,300ha nationwide,' he said. Nga also said that his ministry is committed to transforming the landscape industry as a strategic economic sector that can generate income and job opportunities. Themed 'Landscape Industry as the Catalyst of Madani's Development', Nga announced that this year's event will take place in Pasir Gudang, Johor. The six-day event will be launched by Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor on June 26. 'Last year, the National Landscape Day recorded a total transaction of over RM10mil. 'This year, we aim to break that record,' he said, adding that the celebration is also in line with Malaysia's chairmanship of the UN-Habitat Assembly. In a separate event, Nga witnessed the signing of Malaysia's second Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant, this time in Sungai Udang, Melaka. The plant will be able to process 1,000 tonnes daily and generate 22MW of electricity. He added that the new plant will be able to reduce over 259,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year – similar to planting four million trees. 'The plant will also be equipped with a leachate treatment plant, with a capacity of 96 cubic metres, and will be built on the 3.9ha land at the existing Sungai Udang's landfill,' he said. Nga was speaking at the signing of a concession agreement through the public-private partnership with Malakoff Corporation Bhd and Alam Flora Environmental Solutions Sdn Bhd. The project involves a RM660mil investment cost into a 34-year concession – including three-year construction from 2026 – through the Build, Operate and Own concept. He added that the plant will start its construction in 2026 after fulfilling various conditions, including Environmental Impact Assessment, Social Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Plan, Waste Structure Plan and other technical documents. The first WtE plant is located at Ladang Tanah Merah, Port Dickson in Negri Sembilan, and was completed in 2023. Nga said the need for transformation of waste management has become more crucial because the data shows that Malaysia is running out of landfills, as the country is projected to produce 17.03 million tonnes of waste by 2035. Previously, it was reported that the government has identified 18 possible sites for proposed WtE plants that will serve the needs of every state in Peninsular Malaysia. Last July, Nga told the Dewan Rakyat that the sites are: Jabi and Padang Cina in Kedah; Bukit Payung, Seelong and Sedili (Johor); Jabor-Jerangau and Belenggu (Pahang); Sungai Udang (Melaka); Rawang (Kuala Lumpur); Jeram, Tanjung Dua Belas and Rawang Dua (Selangor); Pulau Burung (Penang); Lahat, Taiping and Manjung (Perak); Tertak Batu (Terengganu); and Jedok (Kelantan).
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
MCMC: Telcos have more data
PETALING JAYA: Mobile phone data collected by the government is far less than what big tech companies already have, says a Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) commissioner, amid continued concerns over the initiative. MCMC commissioner Derek Fernandez said the data collected by the Mobile Phone Data (MPD) programme is anonymised and does not contain any personal information. 'The data we request does not include names, addresses, IC numbers or phone numbers. It's only general data. 'Big tech companies already have more personal data. They know where you are, what you're buying. Isn't that a bigger concern?' he said, addressing critics of the initiative who fear the data could be misused. Fernandez said the MPD initiative is grounded under International Telecommunications Union practices, a UN agency for information and communication technologies. (Click To Enlarge) 'The most important thing is that we tell the telcos not to send us personal identification. Only the Statistics Department will have access to the anonymised data for analysis and policymaking. 'For example, if I want to know how many people like going to a certain place on a Friday, I can either choose to sit there and count, or check mobile phone usage. 'We don't have granular data on the exact location of the device, only the cell tower it is connected to,' Fernandez added. At a media briefing on June 9, MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin said all mobile network operators have agreed to comply with the MFD. He also said the Statistics Department will process and analyse the data for publication. The collected data will be stored at a MCMC premise for three years, while the project, which is in the pilot phase, will continue until 2026. Telcos have since reaffirmed their commitment to protecting customer data and privacy as the exercise is carried out. MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong also proposed that the government address possible pitfalls with the exercise.
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Stats Dept introducing agricultural production index to aid national food security
KEPALA BATAS: The Statistics Department will introduce a National Agricultural Production Index to strengthen food security by addressing critical data gaps in the agriculture sector. Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the index, to be pushed quarterly, would offer a more comprehensive view of agricultural output, supporting evidence-based policymaking in a sector central to both livelihoods and economic stability. The index is being developed in collaboration with several government agencies and will mirror existing statistical frameworks used for the manufacturing, electricity and services sectors. "This data will help identify which areas are experiencing increases in agricultural output and the information can be shared across agencies for planning and policy-making purposes," he said on Tuesday (June 17) after launching the 2024 Penang Interim Agriculture Census Report, officiated by Penang agrotechnology, food security and cooperative development committee chairman Fahmi Zainol here. Until now, national agricultural statistics have focused primarily on palm oil and padi production, which he described as 'not comprehensive.' The new index, he said, would offer more structured and detailed coverage of the broader agricultural sector. Preliminary findings from the 2024 Agriculture Census indicate that the sector recorded sales of RM161bil in 2023, employing 1.7 million people. These figures underscore the industry's potential if backed by strategic policies and innovation. In Penang alone, agricultural sales reached RM3.5bil, despite the state's small size. Individual farmers accounted for 93.1% of agricultural holdings, with organisations making up the remaining 6.9%. The census also highlighted the active role played by senior citizens, with more than half of Malaysians aged 60 and above still engaged in agriculture. Mohd Uzir noted that the presence of older farmers in the field remains strong, while youth involvement presents further opportunities to enhance sector productivity. – Bernama
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sri Lanka's Growth Cools as Monetary Policy Easing Renewed
The Sri Lankan economy grew at a slower pace last quarter, as a high base is beginning to catch up. Gross domestic product rose 4.8% in the three months to March from a year ago, the Statistics Department said Monday. That compares with a reading of 5.4% in the October-December period.
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Food inflation burning a hole in household budgets
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian households paid RM100 for food items in 2024, while the same amount of foodstuff could be bought at RM30.90 in 1980 – no thanks to food inflation. According to a report by the Statistics Department (DOSM), the threefold increase in food prices in the past five decades also saw the purchasing power of Malaysian households decline by 69.1%. The Food Security report released last month said a big portion of households expenditure went into purchasing daily necessities. For instance, a B40 household with monthly income below RM5,250 would allocate 71.6% of the expenditure for daily necessities. An M40 household earning between RM5,250 and RM11,819 would spend 67% while a T20 home earning over RM11,820 allocated 64%. The F&B segment was one of the main reasons why the Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew by 3.2% between 2010 and 2024. The price increase influenced spending patterns as basic necessities such as rice, vegetables, chicken, meat and eggs would have become more expensive. 'This would make households reduce their expenditure on non-essential items such as clothing, entertainment and travel to cover the high cost of food. 'All subgroups under the Food & Beverage category recorded a decline in purchasing power ranging from 20.1% to 39.2% between 2010 and 2024,' said the report. Fish and seafood products are the most affected subgroup, whereby purchasing power had declined 39.2% due to annual inflation averaging at 3.6%. While prices of goods and services continued to increase, household income was not growing at the same rate, therefore reducing purchasing power. This forces households to make an adjustment to their spending patterns. 'These changes in spending behaviour can lead to a decline in purchasing power and may negatively affect family well-being. Households tend to prioritise essential items, such as food, rent, utility bills and transportation. 'On a monthly basis, the average Malaysian household spent RM841 (16.3%) of their total average monthly household expenditure (RM5,150) on the Food & Beverage category in 2022. This was the highest average expenditure among all categories,' it said. As inflation in this category rises, it directly burdens households, especially due to the increase in food prices, which affects their daily lives, it added. As a result, healthy food becomes more costly, prompting households to gravitate towards unhealthy and less nutritious food which is pocket-friendly. 'When food prices increase faster than household income, food security can be significantly affected,' the report said. 'Limited access to food is expected to contribute to a rise in malnutrition, anaemia, diabetes, obesity, and other nutrition-related diseases, as households may be forced to consume unbalanced diets due to affordability issues.' Geopolitical conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which are major exporters of grains and fertiliser, also had a hand in driving global food inflation. 'These supply disruptions have especially impacted the rising cost of livestock and agricultural inputs, particularly for chicken and vegetables. 'The effects are reflected in the average annual inflation for chicken, which rose by 2.5% (2010-2024), with the highest increase recorded in 2022 at 10.0%. In addition, unpredictable weather in major chicken feed-producing countries like Brazil, Argentina and India has indirectly influenced feed prices. Meanwhile, vegetable inflation also rose by an average of 3.2% annually, with the highest increase recorded in 2022 at 5.5%, added the report.
