PUTRAJAYA, Nov 15 — The country’s first chief statistician, Datuk Ramesh Chander, passed away at about 2.50am (Malaysian time) on Tuesday (November 14) in the United States, aged 88.
According to Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Mohd Uzir Mahidin, the late Ramesh held the position for 11 years, from January 1, 1966, until December 31, 1977.
“While leading the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), he managed to develop a statistical system that is still in use today,” he said in a statement today.
Ramesh also contributed to pioneering the use of integrated household surveys for data collection to analyse poverty and socio-economic indicators, among others.
He was also the first Census Commissioner who carried out the post-independence Population and Housing Census in 1970 and was involved in developing the framework for monitoring the targets and goals of the New Economic Policy.
Uzir said the Kuantan native played an active role in highlighting DOSM’s role in the Asian region and at the international level, serving as the chairman of the Asian Statistical Conference and representing Malaysia at the Conference of Commonwealth Statisticians.
Ramesh was also one of the founding members of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP) and a member of the technical committee for the World Fertility Survey, among others.
He remained active in advocating for statistics in his golden years by attending various forums such as the Webinar: Counting Everyone for a Better Tomorrow on July 7, 2020, Corruption in Malaysia: Who Will Bell the Cat on April 28, 2021, and the Population Statistics Seminar on February 14, 2022.
On behalf of DOSM, Uzir also expressed condolences to Ramesh's family and hoped they would remain strong and patient in the face of this loss.
“DOSM will always remember and appreciate the late Ramesh’s contributions, especially in enhancing the statistical system to assist the country in formulating socio-economic policies and planning,” he added.
— Bernama
