Country's first chief statistician dies

The country’s first chief statistician Ramesh Chander passed away at about 2.50am (Malaysian time) on Tuesday in the United States at the age of 88.

According to Chief Statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin, Ramesh held the position for 11 years from Jan 1, 1966, until Dec 31, 1977.

“While leading the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), he (Ramesh) managed to develop a statistical system that is still in use,” Uzir said in a statement today.

He said Ramesh also contributed to pioneering the use of integrated household surveys for data collection to analyse poverty and socio-economic indicators.

Ramesh 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 added.

He said the Kuantan native played an active role in highlighting the department’s role in the Asian region and at the international level.

Ramesh served as the chairperson of the Asian Statistical Conference, represented Malaysia at the Conference of Commonwealth Statisticians, was one of the founding members of the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific, and was a member of the technical committee for the World Fertility Survey.

Uzir said Ramesh 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 Feb 14, 2022.

On behalf of the department, Uzir expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and hoped they would remain strong and patient in the face of this loss.

“The department will always remember and appreciate Ramesh’s contributions, especially in enhancing the statistical system to assist the country in formulating socio-economic policies and planning,” he added.

- Bernama

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