[UPDATE] e-Census For Banci 2020 Has Now Been Extended Until 21 December

Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said in a statement yesterday that the first phase of Banci 2020, which includes the e-census and computer-assisted telephone interviews, will continue from 7 October to 21 December.

"During this period, members of the public who have yet to complete filling in the census form are advised to do so [online]. This is to reduce the number of face-to-face interviews to prevent the risk of COVID-19 infection," he said, as reported by New Straits Times.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) added that the Census Act 1960 (Revised 1969) requires members of the public to take part in the census and complete the questionnaire.

"The population and housing data is very important for the government to formulate policies for the well-being of the nation. This is to ensure that every plan meets the needs of the target groups and no one is left out," said Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

According to chief statistician YBhg. Dato' Sri Dr. Mohd Uzir Mahidin, the Department of Statistics Malaysia will be sending postcards to targeted areas, similar to what they did earlier in July this year.

The postcard will contain your mailing address and a special 11-digit invitation code you can use to log in to the census portal.

For those who don't receive a postcard, you can still pre-register online to get your e-Census invitation code from 7 October to 30 November, with the last date to fill the questionnaire being on 21 December.

Here's a step-by-step guide:
STEP 1: Go through the first-time login process
STEP 2: Receive your One-Time Password (OTP)
STEP 3: Login to the e-Census portal
STEP 4: Complete the questionnaire and submit

The second phase of Banci 2020, which involves face-to-face interviews, was initially supposed to take place from 7 to 24 October.

For those who do not complete the first phase of Banci 2020, you will be visited by pembanci at your home from 20 January to 6 February 2021.