PUTRAJAYA, Sept 20 — The surge of unverified data on social media and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) are among the biggest challenges faced by the Malaysian Statistics Department (DOSM) in safeguarding the credibility of the country’s official statistics
Chief Statistician Siti Asiah Ahmad said the two challenges required DOSM to be more agile and flexible in adapting to rapid technological changes.
“One of the biggest challenges DOSM faces is the overflow of data. Today, anyone can publish figures, and people may believe them without knowing their source or validity,” she told Bernama.
The situation was more concerning when certain parties used specific figures and claimed they originated from DOSM, even though the data were not published by the department.
DOSM will continue to provide clarification and promote data literacy through various platforms, including the media, to ensure accurate information was disseminated and not misinterpreted.
On AI, Siti said the technology has the potential to transform the employment landscape, including in statistics and data analytics, while also helping DOSM produce statistics more quickly and in greater detail.
However, the use of AI must be supported by strong statistical knowledge and expertise to ensure information generated could be properly assessed and verified before use.
“If we do not have the knowledge, we will simply follow what AI produces without the ability to review or develop alongside it,” she said.
Technological changes also require DOSM to reassess its workforce structure and future job requirements, particularly in data collection, analytics, and statistics production.
Siti added that continuous capacity building among DOSM personnel was essential to ensure they were prepared to face technological challenges, including AI.
The move is important to ensure the organisation remains relevant and resilient while strengthening efforts to improve statistical literacy among the public.
“Statistics are not merely numbers. People need to understand the source, context and how a figure is produced. This is the responsibility DOSM must carry with integrity,” she said.
DOSM also needs to strengthen officers’ ability to explain statistics in language that was easier for the public and media to understand, in line with the shift from conventional publications to digital approaches.
“DOSM personnel must adapt to technological changes without compromising integrity and professionalism,” Siti said.
The passing of the Statistics Bill 2026 in Parliament also marked a new chapter in strengthening DOSM’s role as the leader of the country’s data and statistics ecosystem.
The stronger legal framework enables DOSM to expand data sharing across ministries, agencies and the private sector, while strengthening the whole-of-government approach to producing statistics that are faster, integrated, and responsive to national needs.
