BACHOK: A total of 17.7 million out of 32.7 million Malaysians have completed the Malaysia Population and Housing Census 2020 (Census 2020) as of yesterday.

Deputy chief statistician (Social and Technical Development programme) Nazaria Baharudin said the number represented 50 per cent of the total number of people in the country who have completed the census.

"A total of 17.7 million or 54 per cent of the country's 32.7 million population have had the census done. The remaining 50 per cent of the population will (have it completed) by the end of June but if there are remaining unresolved issues, all will be done by July.

"It is important for the government to conduct the Census 2020 in order for it to plan the necessary facilities such as health facilities for the elderly, and schools and nurseries needed for the next nine years. Those who refuse to register (and conduct the census) will be the (eventual) losers as it will make it difficult for the government to plan and implement the necessary development projects every year."

Nazaria said this to reporters at the Department of Statistics Malaysia's (DOSM) field trip programme in Kampung Balai, Tawang, here, today.

Also present at the event was Kelantan DOSM director Zuraidy Zainal Abidin.

Commenting on the Census 2020 in Kelantan, Nazaria said they received very good cooperation from the people, adding that 1.4 million out of 1.9 million Kelantanese having fullfilled their responsibilities.

"We have covered 419,000 households and areas such as the Lojing subdistrict, and the districts of Jeli, Tanah Merah, Tumpat, Pasir Puteh and Machang have completed the census process.

"Meanwhile, the districts of Kota Bharu is 98 per cent (complete), Gua Musang (98 per cent), Kuala Krai (97 per cent), Pasir Mas (98 per cent), and Bachok (81 per cent)," she added.

-- BERNAMA