| 1.
INTRODUCTION |
| 1.1 |
The Department of Statistics
(DOS) has had a long experience in undertaking national
population and housing censuses, apart from its
responsibility of collecting, interpreting and disseminating
statistics in other fields. The Department
had undertaken the Censuses in the years 1911, 1921,
1931, 1947 and 1957. Since the introduction of the
Census Act 1960, the Department of Statistics has
conducted the Population and Housing Censuses of
Malaysia for the years 1970, 1980, 1991 and 2000.
The 2000 Population and Housing Census is the fourth
nation-wide census conducted by the Government since
the formation of Malaysia. |
| 1.2 |
A population and housing
census represents the principal means of data collection
aimed at providing a comprehensive set of statistical
information on population and housing. In
this respect, the Population and Housing Census
of Malaysia provides a wealth of information on
the number of persons and households together with
a wide range of their demographic, social and economic
characteristics. In addition, information on the
total number of living quarters by type, structural
characteristics and the availability of amenities
are also available. |
| 1.3 |
As was the case with
previous censuses where data collected were used
extensively in the preparation and monitoring of
the Five-Year Malaysia Plans. The socio-economic
data collected in the Census would provide a comprehensive
set of statistical information for the planning,
formulation and implementation of government policies
and programmes. Apart from this, the census
data are also widely used by business and industry,
research institutions and individuals. |
|
|
| 2. CENSUS
TOPICS |
| 2.1 |
In order to determine
the topics to be included in the 2000 Population
and Housing Census, the Technical Committee on Census
chaired by the Director General of the Economic
Planning Unit with the Department of Statistics
acting as its secretariat had deliberations attended
by other members such as representatives from Ministry
of Finance, Ministry of Housing and Local Government,
Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of National Unity
and Social Development, Manpower Modernisation and
Planning Unit (MAMPU), Central Bank, Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture
and Ministry of Human Resources, Public Services
Department, Town and Country Planning Department,
Department of National Housing, Department of Social
Welfare, Department of Aborigines Affairs, Immigration
Department, and National Population and Family Development
Board . Resulting from these deliberations
a final set of topics to be canvassed in the census
was agreed upon taking into consideration the needs
of planners as well as other users. |
| 2.2 |
The list of topics
canvassed in the 2000 census with comparisons made
with those canvassed in the last three previous
censuses in 1970, 1980 and 1991 is shown in APPENDIX
1. The topics are arranged under three
broad headings namely: |
|
- Population
- Household and
- Housing
|
|
|
| 3. CENSUS
TAKING |
| 3.1 |
The 'de jure' approach
was adopted for the first time in the 2000 Census
whereby all persons on Census Day (5th
July 2000) were enumerated according to their place
of usual residence. This differed from the 'de facto'
approach used in previous censuses whereby all persons
were enumerated at the place where they physically
were on Census Night. Anyway, we are still using
door to door interview. |
| 3.2 |
The enumeration was
carried out over a period of sixteen days beginning
from 5th July until 20th July
2000. Consistent with usual practice, mopping-up
activities were also undertaken after the enumeration
period. |
| 3.3 |
The overall census
organisation in terms of operation and number of
personnel involved is shown in Table 1. |
| Table
1 : Census field organisation and personnel, Malaysia
2000 |
|
Designation |
Area of responsibility |
Number of personnel |
| Census Commissioner |
Malaysia |
1 |
| Deputy Commissioner |
State / Federal
Territory / Orang Asli (aboriginal) Areas |
17 |
| Assistant Commissioner |
Administrative
District |
200 |
| District Superintendent |
Census District |
617 |
| Supervisor |
Census Circle |
7,864 |
| Enumerator |
Enumeration Block |
54,086 |
|
|
|
| 4.
TRAINING |
| 4.1 |
The main aim of training
is to achieve an understanding of the contents in
the instruction manual so that all census procedures
should be uniformly carried out including the methods
of data collection. |
| 4.2 |
Because of the large
number of Supervisors and Enumerators required for
census taking, the right training strategy is very
important, to achieve uniformly. Four levels of
training were carried out as follows: |
|
- Centralised training
of DOS Trainers
- Training of Assistant Commissioners
/ District Superintendents
- Training of Supervisors
- Training of Enumerators
|
|
|
| 5. DATA
PROCESSING |
| 5.1 |
The data processing
activity of 2000 Census was decentralised. 13 processing
centres were setup. Total number of personnel was
about 2,800 and the number of PC's used was 403
units. |
| 5.2 |
The Census data collected
was processed in two phases as part of the strategy
to speedily release the results. They are: |
|
- Phase 1 : Non-coding questions
(e.g.: Birthplace)
- Phase 2 : Coding questions
(e.g.: Occupation/ Industry)
|
| 5.3 |
Training of the processing
staff was also handled in two phases, that is phase
1 for manual processing activities and phase 2 for
quality control and computer processing activities. |
|
|
| 6. DISSEMINATION
AND UTILIZATION OF THE CENSUS DATA |
| 6.1 |
The voluminous
amount of statistical data collected in a census
requires a proper dissemination program. Planning
of the dissemination and utilization program for
the 2000 census data started in earnest in 1997.
With the advancement of information technology,
due consideration was also given in the planning
process to the dissemination of census data using
the electronic media. |
| 6.2 |
As a result of the
planning process, it was deemed particularly important
that a document outlining all the types of census
products and services that will be available be
produced so that users would be well aware of the
type of data and their estimated timing of release.
It was decided that for each product (service),
a brief description of its contents, release date,
level of geographical detail and other useful information
be made available to users. |
| A.
DATA DISSEMINATION |
|
Among the issues that
arose during the planning process of the strategy
for the dissemination of the 2000 Census data were
as follows: |
| |
(i) Printed Reports
(Basic Statistical Reports) |
|
Printed publications
- despite the constraints of storage space and production
costs - remain the preferred choice for dissemination
of census data by many users. Paper media
do not easily deteriorate and do not require that
the user have any particular equipment, software
or technical skills. |
|
In order to facilitate
timeliness in the release of printed publications
it is envisaged that computer-readable files containing
the publication tabulations be sent to the printer
in compatible software for high speed printing systems
that employ microcomputers. |
|
The number of copies
for any given printed report will be drastically
reduced for the 2000 Census as compared to the previous
census in anticipation that some users would be
more inclined to purchase similar data on the electronic
media such as floppy disks, compact disks, CD-ROM
and the like. |
|
It is envisaged that
the reports on the 2000 Census would be made available
to users on a staggered basis keeping in perspective
the need for timeliness in the release of data.
The first report to come out for the 2000 Census
would be preliminary field counts on the total population
(male and female), households and living quarters
at various geographical levels (state, district,
mukim and local authority areas) and is expected
to be available to users some 3 months after the
completion of the census. Census reports based
on computer validated data are expected to be released
in stages by subject areas (e.g. basic demographic
characteristics, social characteristics, education,
migration, economic characteristics, household and
housing) over a period of two years after the completion
of the 2000 Census enumeration. |
|
(ii) Dissemination
on Computer Media |
|
For some users, computer-readable
magnetic and optical media are the preferred medium
of dissemination. This is because data in
this form are often cheaper to obtain, copy and
store. In addition, the data in this form
can lend itself for further computer processing,
computation, graphing and analysis. Newer
technologies have made magnetic media less attractive
since adequate storage procedures and frequent recycling
are necessary to avoid demagnetization and loss
of data. Technologies such as CD-ROM provide
a much better medium of distribution of large data
sets. Standard CD-ROMs are read only optical
media and besides having a very large storage capacity,
they are durable and can be produced inexpensively.
CD-ROMs being write-once media have the added advantage
in terms of protecting the integrity of data contained. |
|
(iii) Census
Data on Internet |
|
With the growing popularity
of the Internet and World Wide Web, on-line dissemination
of census data provides a new and efficient media.
The advantages of on-line dissemination are found
primarily in terms of speed and cost. There
is no expense involved in the production and distribution
of printed materials or other data supports. |
|
The Internet would
also serve as an information medium in outlining
the type of census data (reports) to be made available
as well as its expected timing of release.
The content of each report can also be given so
that the user knows in more detail what to expect
in that particular publication including the level
of geographical detail. |
|
The data made available
on the Internet would be basic in nature.
More detailed information or data pertaining to
small areas (localities etc.) would be made available
at a specified cost in a medium (printed or computer
media) as required by the user. |
|
(iv) Mapping
Products |
|
Maps are tools that
make the census results more understandable and
easier to use. The maps principally serve
two purposes. Firstly, census area identification
maps locate and show the boundaries of all administrative
areas for which data is reported (e.g. state, district,
mukim, local authority areas, townships etc.).
Secondly, thematic maps present the more important
census results, thus allowing the general user to
visualise the geographical distributions and patterns
inherent in the data. In this respect, it
is planned that census maps at various administrative
levels will be produced to accompany the census
reports, which portray data at different administrative
areas. |
|
In addition, like in
the 1991 Population and Housing Census of Malaysia,
a Census Atlas is being planned for release for
the 2000 Census. This Census Atlas is expected
to contain thematic maps on population dynamics
(growth and composition) and distribution; basic
demographic characteristics, socio-economic characteristics
as well as on households and housing. |
|
In addition to the
above, it is expected that many users would be interested
in very small area data such as that for a housing
estate, village, locality etc. The ad hoc
area required by these users can then be identified
using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and
the data at the lowest level, that is the Enumeration
Block (EB), can then be aggregated to meet the user's
requirements. Using GIS, census information
based on spatial and non-spatial criteria as required
by the user can also be produced. |
|
(v) Analytical
Reports |
|
As in the 1991 census
program, analytical reports on topics of special
interest are also to be produced once the basic
census reports are released. These analytical reports
are expected to cover such topics as urbanization,
migration (particularly foreign migration as witnessed
by the presence of a large foreign labour force
in the country), the indigenous (Orang Asli) population,
the elderly population, people with disability,
and the like. Such reports are especially
useful to planners, researchers and specialised
users of census data. |
|
(vi) Unpublished
Tables |
|
Given that the census
contains a wealth of information, not all of the
census data can be published. Tabulations
required by only a few users, such as certain government
offices or specialised research organizations can
be supplied in an unpublished form, that is, unpublished
hard-copy tables or tabulations in machine-readable
format. Given the great number of permutations
in the cross-tabulation of different variables,
some data may not be tabulated until they are actually
required. However in this aspect, the advancement
in computer technology provides the opportunity
to produce a greater number and a wider variety
of tabulations using PC based software than was
the case with previous tabulation approaches.
The data stored in the census database allows fast
and relatively inexpensive production of additional
tables as they are requeste |
|
|
| B. UTILIZATION
OF CENSUS DATA |
|
Population censuses
are traditionally used for public and private sector
policy-making, planning, administrative and research
purposes. Information on the size, distribution
and characteristics of a country's population and
housing is essential to describing and assessing
its economic, social and demographic situation and
to develop sound policies and programmes in relation
to education and literacy; employment and human
resources; transportation and highway planning and
the like. |
|
In the Malaysian context
the data from the 2000 Census would serve as an
important input in the evaluation and formulation
of important policies, projects and programmes to
be incorporated in the Government's Eighth Malaysia
Plan (Year 2001-2005). Apart from this, other
government agencies would also be using the census
data to evaluate and formulate policies and programmes
in relation to the duties and responsibilities entrusted
to them. |
|
The advancement in
information and computer technology would inevitably
ensure that the enormously rich data collected in
the 2000 Census would be more fully exploited by
users in the public and private sector than has
been the case in the past. This is made easier
with the variety of media in which the census data
can be stored, retrieved and analysed by users. |
|
|
| 7.
DEVELOPMENT OF GIS IN DOS |
| 7.1 |
As the census involves
a large data set, the ability of a GIS system to
capture, store, retrieve, analyze and display spatial
information would greatly enhance the usage of census
data. In this respect there is a tremendous
potential in terms of the thematic maps and spatial
search that can be generated for purposes of illustration
or analysis at various geographical levels hitherto
not available. In particular, the understanding
of census data which relates basically to
the distribution of population, households and housing
units and their associated characteristics can be
more effectively presented in map form. The
value-added effect is not only immense but would
also provide options to serve a wider spectrum of
users as well as to provide linkages to external
data files with common geographical identifiers. |
| 7.2 |
Realising the potentialities
of GIS application in census work, several exploratory
findings were made as early as 1989 to identify
the available technology related to GIS in Malaysia.
Basic to this is to set out the primary objective
in terms of developing GIS as a tool to performing
specific census activities as well as looking into
the current and future software / hardware availability
in the market. Several demonstrations on the
hardware and software using census related data
were used to identify the potential of GIS for census
and related uses. To look into the functional
requirements of setting up the GIS system in DOS,
a GIS consultant from the United States Bureau of
Census was engaged on a short term basis. |
| 7.3 |
Acquisition of GIS
hardware and software was completed in early 1993.
This acquisition consisted of a workstation and
a personal computer, which are connected in a local
area network system for performing the GIS functions.
In addition, the cartographic data input device
is through a digitizer and output devices consist
of a drum plotter and a line printer. An inkjet
colour printer was acquired in late 1995.
To link to the mainframe, an additional personal
computer is attached to retrieve the processed attribute
census data. The GIS software installed in
the workstation and personal computer is ARC/INFO.
For display, browse and query of geographic data
the ARCVIEW module is also installed in both computers. |
| APPENDIX
1 |
| TOPICS
COVERED IN THE POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUSES OF
1970, 1980, 1991 AND 2000, MALAYSIA |
|
| |
CENSUS TOPICS |
1970 |
1980 |
1991 |
2000 |
| |
| (A) |
POPULATION |
|
|
|
|
| |
GEOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
|
|
| |
Place where person was found on Census Day |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Place of usual residence at time of Census |
x |
x |
/ |
/ |
| |
DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
|
|
| |
Sex |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Age |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Date of Birth |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Marital Status |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Ethnicity |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Religion |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Citizenship / residence status |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Identity Card (Colour) |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Language Spoken |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Disability |
/ |
/ |
x |
/ |
| |
FERTILITY AND MORTALITY |
|
|
|
|
| |
Number of children born alive |
/ |
/ |
x |
/ |
| |
Number of children living |
/ |
/ |
x |
/ |
| |
Age at first marriage |
x |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Number of times married |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Number of years married |
/ |
x |
x |
x |
| |
MIGRATION CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
|
|
| |
Birthplace |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Period of residence in Malaysia |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Period of residence in present locality |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Place of last previous residence |
x |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Reason for migration |
x |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Place of residence five years ago |
x |
x |
/ |
/ |
| |
Year of first arrival in Malaysia |
/ |
/ |
x |
/ |
| |
EDUCATION CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
|
|
| |
Literacy |
/ |
/ |
x |
/ |
| |
School attendance |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Highest level of schooling attained |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Highest educational certificate obtained |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Vocational training |
x |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Field of study |
x |
x |
x |
/ |
| |
ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
|
|
| |
Type of economic activity (during previous week) |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Number of hours worked (during previous week) |
x |
x |
/ |
/ |
| |
Type of economic activity (during last twelve months) |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Occupation |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Industry |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Employment status |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Sector |
x |
x |
x |
/ |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| (B) |
HOUSEHOLD |
|
|
|
|
| |
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS |
|
|
|
|
| |
Relationship to head of household |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Number of persons in household |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Type of occupancy |
/ |
x |
x |
x |
| |
Rent (furnished/unfurnished) |
/ |
x |
x |
/ |
| |
Main cooking fuel |
/ |
x |
x |
x |
| |
Household equipment |
/ |
/ (a) |
/ (a) |
/ (a) |
| |
Household income |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Household ownership |
x |
x |
x |
/ |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| (B) |
LIVING QUARTERS |
|
|
|
|
| |
Location of living quarters |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Type of living quarters |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Type of foundation |
/ |
x |
x |
x |
| |
Construction material of outer walls |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Construction material of roof |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Condition |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Occupancy status |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Year (period) of construction |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Type of ownership (tunure) |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Rent (furnished / unfurnished) |
/ |
x |
/ |
/ |
| |
Type of water supply |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Type of lighting |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Type of toilet facility |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
Bathing facility |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Cooking facility |
/ |
/ |
x |
x |
| |
Main cooking fuel |
/ |
x |
x |
x |
| |
No of bedroom |
x |
x |
/ |
/ |
| |
Garbage collection facility |
x |
x |
/ |
/ |
| |
No. of persons |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| |
No of household |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
| (a)
This topic was canvassed in the household section
of the questionnaire in the Population Census. |
