KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — The Dewan Rakyat passed the Statistics Bill 2026 today, which aims to replace the Statistics Act 1965 (Act 415) and establish a more modern and comprehensive legal framework aligned with the current data and statistics ecosystem, among other objectives.
The Bill, tabled by Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, was passed by a majority voice vote after being debated by 21 MPs.
"Act 415 has been in use for a long period, spanning 61 years. Therefore, the updated legislation will enable the production of data and statistics that more accurately reflect the country's current situation, covering the social, economic, and environmental sectors," he said during his winding-up on the debate on the Statistics Bill 2026.
Akmal added that producing statistics from censuses, surveys, administrative data, geospatial data, and new data sources requires a more comprehensive and flexible legal framework to ensure that official statistics are accurate and responsive to users' needs.
"Through the establishment of the National Statistics Council, a more structured and authoritative coordination platform can be set up to ensure that the development of the country's data and statistics is carried out in a more organised, strategic, and integrated manner," he said.
Additionally, the drafting of the Bill was guided by recommendations, guidelines, and international best practices issued by the United Nations, the United Nations Statistical Commission, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Seven sessions were held with ministries, government departments, state governments, local authorities, academic institutions, industry players, and the private sector, involving a total of 510 participants in the preparation of the Bill.
Akmal noted that the Bill will strengthen coordination within the national statistical system and ensure that the statistics produced are consistent, standardised, and comparable to the digital era.
"The Statistics Bill 2026 also strengthens data protection confidentiality in accordance with the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, which recognise confidentiality as one of the core principles of official statistics.
"All data collected is solely for the purpose of producing the country's official statistics and is subject to strict legal provisions," he said.
Responding to questions about the Repository Centre set up by the Malaysian Statistics Department, Akmal said it will integrate data from various sources to produce the country's official statistics.
"In principle, this repository will enhance data usability, support cross-sectoral analysis, prevent data from remaining in silos, and provide more comprehensive statistics for national development," he said.
