The fitness philosophy of Mohd Uzir, Malaysia's Chief Statistician

Yahoo

05-04-2025

Growing up in Kampung Baru, Sabak Bernam, Selangor, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin always found ways to stay active — including playing badminton in the still hours of the night to avoid wind disruptions.
Those early experiences shaped his philosophy towards fitness and taught him the importance of discipline and perseverance.
'We had to play in the still of the night so the shuttlecock wouldn't be affected by the wind,' Mohd Uzir said with a wry smile in a recent interview with Twentytwo13.
'That taught me that there's no excuse not to play sports or stay fit. If there's a will, there's always a way.'
Fitness remained a constant as he progressed in life. At Universiti Malaya, where he studied analytical economics in 1986, he kept to a disciplined running routine. He later earned an advanced degree at Vanderbilt University in the United States in 2001, followed by a PhD in economics from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.
Despite his hectic schedule, Mohd Uzir always carved out time to run — even if it meant sacrificing sleep.
'I used to run 21km a day, split into morning and evening sessions. I had to wake up early, of course,' said the father of eight.
'When travelling for work, I'd only run once a day. These days, I've scaled back due to workload. Sometimes I jog slowly so I can reply to messages on my phone.
'I wouldn't say I'm addicted to running, but if I skip it, something just feels off.'
Going to extreme lengths
His commitment to fitness borders on the extreme. On Nov 2, 2024, just hours before an official event with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Mohd Uzir completed a 75km bicycle ride around Penang island.
'It took me 3 hours, 49 minutes, and 25 seconds. I started at 3.05am,' he said with a laugh.
'The route wasn't easy — lots of hills. My staff thought I was crazy since I had an important event with the prime minister later that morning. But I wanted to show that even with a busy schedule, we must make time to exercise.'
In another feat, on Malaysia Day in 2022, he decided to run one kilometre for every year of his life.
'I had turned 56 on July 8 (2022), and ended up completing 56.66km in 6 hours, 14 minutes, and 53 seconds.'
He's also the driving force behind Fit DOSM, a fitness initiative within the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Last June, he led 19 colleagues in conquering Mount Kinabalu.
'The climb was to motivate the team to stay fit. I wanted to show that if people my age can do it, the younger ones have no excuse,' he said. 'We deal with data daily — we need a healthy body to maintain a sharp mind.'
Big dream ahead
Mohd Uzir has served in DOSM since 1990 and celebrated his eighth anniversary as Chief Statistician on Feb 14, 2025. Under his leadership, the department transitioned from traditional methods to the use of big data, AI, and advanced analytics.
'Amid economic, social, and pandemic challenges, DOSM ensures that our data is accurate, transparent, and impactful in supporting government policies,' he said.
'These years have been more than just a job — they've shaped me as a leader and as a public servant committed to serving the nation.'
Still, there's one personal goal he's yet to achieve — completing a full triathlon.
'I turn 59 this July, and I hope to do a full triathlon before I hit 60,' said Mohd Uzir. 'I've taken part in team events before, doing either the running or cycling leg. But I want to complete all three — including swimming, which is my weak point. I need to train harder for that.'
As he continues to take on professional and physical challenges, Mohd Uzir remains an inspiration — not just to his colleagues, but to anyone striving for balance, discipline, and excellence.