Chief statistician and census commissioner Wan Ramlah Wan Abd Raof today called on Malaysian residents to provide accurate information for the Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2010.

These information would help the government in drafting policies and plans for the people's well-being, she said.

"The people may not be able to see immediate benefit of providing these information, but they will in the future. For example, the proper roads, public facilities and clean water supply that we have today are the results of the previous census.

"When the government makes new plans or policies, it needs detailed information. If a school is to be built in a certain area, the ones making the policies and plans will want to know what suitable school to be built," she told Bernama after appearing on the ‘Helo Malaysia’ talkshow on Bernama TV.

A RM200 mil operation

The Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2010 - which is a task carried out every 10 years - will begin on July 6 till Aug 22, involving a cost of RM200 million.

Wan Ramlah also advised residents to make sure that the workers conducting the census were those legally appointed for the purpose and not unauthorised persons who would only take advantage of the operation.

"The residents must insist that the census workers show their special authority cards which will have the signature of the district census commissioner," she said, adding that those who could not give their information in person could answer census questions online by using the E-Census Service.

- Bernama