SEBERANG PERAI, November 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today that Malaysia will focus on cultivating local talent and reducing reliance on foreign expertise across government departments. Speaking at the 75th-anniversary celebration of the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Anwar emphasized the importance of strengthening homegrown skills, noting that dependence on foreign experts has sometimes hindered the development of local capabilities.
Highlighting DOSM’s achievements in producing precise data at national, state, and district levels, Anwar called for other departments to follow this example by training and building internal expertise. He stressed that having robust and accurate data is essential for effective planning, particularly in managing subsidies and expenditure. “Without good data, subsidies may not reach their intended groups, resulting in financial leakages,” he said.
Anwar also mentioned the upcoming release of the Agriculture Census 2024, which will provide crucial insights into Malaysia’s agricultural sector and aid in developing policies to enhance food security. He commended DOSM for its professionalism and encouraged them to continue refining their data capabilities in preparation for regional ASEAN engagements next year.
