KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 26 million Malaysians have been enumerated for the national census exercise so far despite the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

       In a Parliamentary written reply, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said out of this, a total of 28.1% of the population was enumerated online and 71.9% of the population were enumerated face-to-face as of Sept 12.

       "In line with the development of the increasing Covid-19 vaccination rates, face-to-face and targeted censuses were rescheduled to begin in September and expected to be completed by Oct 31, 2021," he said in a written reply to Ong Kian Ming (PH-Bangi).

       Ong had wanted to know when the 2020 Census would be completed and whether the inaccurate population estimates due to the delay had affected the calculations and planning for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.

       Ismail Sabri responded that planning for the programme had used population estimates for 2020 and that implementation of the census did not affect the immunisation drive.

       "The 2020 population estimate data is based on the Population and Housing 2010 census which took into account three of the main components of population change which are births, deaths and net migration," he said.

       He added that registration for the vaccine uses the most recent residential address to ensure individuals receive their injections fast.