The increasing role of the third sector in official statistical
collation: The national information communications technology association of
Malaysia's experience
Affiliations: Head of Policy, Capability and Research, The National
ICT Association of Malaysia (PIKOM), Malaysia. Tel.: +6 03 7955 2922; Fax: +6
03 7955 293; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: This paper examines the increasing role of non-governmental and
not-for-profit organizations (NGO/NPO) in the collection, collation and
dissemination of policy relevant statistical data. Typically, national
statistical agencies perform official statistical tasks and third sectors focus
on the welfare and interests of their members. However, in recent years, the
third sectors, besides involvement in market and business developments and
industry relevant policy advocacy activities, are increasingly becoming
involved in the collation and dissemination of public policy relevant data
towards becoming a voice of industry. Due to rapid political, social, economic
and technological upheavals, the demand for new data, especially in information
communications technology (ICT), is on the rise and becoming more complex when
traditional statistical concepts and definitions, data collection methods,
techniques and procedures as well as institutional arrangements and divisions
of responsibilities are challenged. It is reckoned that national statistical
offices worldwide find it increasingly difficult to cope with unbudgeted or
unscheduled work, especially when they are bogged down with exigencies of
routine tasks and limited resources in terms of allocations and in-house
subject matter expertise. This paper relates to the complimentary role that
private sector associations could play in industry relevant data
identification, collection, processing, collation and dissemination that
typically are the functions of national statistical offices worldwide. For
illustration purposes, the experiences of National Information Communications
Technology Association of Malaysia are depicted on how they incrementally got
involved in official statistical collation activities, besides engaging in
regular policy advocacy and intervention activities.
Keywords: Official statistics, new age data imperatives and challenges, changing third sector roles, Malaysian experience
