The objective of MyStats is to provide a platform for our statisticians, analysts, economists, policy makers, academicians and media to share, discuss and highlight insights and issues in statistical analysis and policy formulation as well as challenges in the compilation and communication of statistics. MyStats will not only discuss economic and financial data, but will also encompass other socio-economic statistics such as poverty measurement and indicators, labour and employment statistics, just to name a few. I hope that this collaborative effort will one day turn into an annual THE statistics event in Malaysia and MyStats will evolve into a regional conference, similar to the well-established statistical conferences organised by the International Statistics Institute (ISI), European Central Bank (ECB) and IFC. I must acknowledge that this conference was inspired by the efforts of the ECB and IFC, which the Bank and I, as the Chairman of IFC, have been actively engaging with on statistical initiatives, in particular over the last one year. For those who are new to the IFC, allow me to mention a few words on the Committee. The IFC is a forum of central bank economists and statisticians as well as others who wish to participate in discussing statistical issues of interest to central banks. It is established and governed by the international central banking community and operates under the auspices of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Currently, the IFC has about 80 central bank members and is actively organising statistical initiatives, particularly conferences, seminars and workshops.

Muhammad bin Ibrahim: Challenges in compiling and communicating statistics in Malaysia Opening remarks by Mr Muhammad bin Ibrahim, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia, at the National Statistics Conference (MyStats 2012), Kuala Lumpur, 9 November 2012. *  *  *  Saya berbesar hati untuk mengalu-alukan kepada semua yang hadir pada persidangan yang julung-julung kali diadakan ini, MyStats 2012, yang memperlihatkan sekali lagi kejayaan dalam usaha kerjasama di antara Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia dengan Bank Negara Malaysia. Saya juga amat gembira dan berbangga dengan sokongan yang ditunjukkan oleh para peserta yang mengambil bahagian hari ini, yang terdiri daripada sektor swasta dan sektor awam, pengguna dan perangkawan statistik, di samping rakan-rakan saya daripada Irving Fisher Committee on Central Bank Statistics (IFC). Dengan kehadiran kumpulan yang mempunyai pelbagai kepentingan ini, saya yakin forum ini akan menjadi platform yang amat sesuai untuk kita berkongsi pandangan, bertukar-tukar pengetahuan dan pengalaman tentang statistik, dan akhirnya memperoleh manfaat besar daripada persidangan ini. I am pleased to welcome all of you to this inaugural conference, MyStats 2012, a collaborative effort between Department of Statistics Malaysia and Bank Negara Malaysia. I am also very encouraged by the strong support from all of you present here today, representing both the private and public sectors, users and compilers of statistics, and Executives members from the Irving Fisher Committee on Central Bank Statistics (IFC). With such a diversified interest group, I believe this forum will be an important platform for us to share views, exchange statistical knowledge and experiences.