Didn’t register for Padu? Govt still has your info

The deadline for registration for the Central Database Hub (Padu) ended at 11.59pm, March 31, with 11.55 million Malaysians aged 18 and above successfully registering their profiles in the system. These include nearly two million civil servants who were instructed to register.

A further 6.1 million Malaysians have also updated their details.

Padu, launched on Jan 2, by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is a comprehensive database established by the government that contains individual, and household profiles of Malaysian citizens and permanent residents. The system is to pave the way for a fairer distribution of targeted subsidies to deserving Malaysians.

Hours before the deadline, Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli said on X (formerly known as Twitter): “Aku dah penatlah. Hari ini takde pantun. Ikut suka korang lah. Nak daftar, daftar. Tak nak daftar pun ... pandai-pandai lah korang beraya.” (“I’m tired. There’s no poetry today. Just follow what you like. Want to sign up, sign up. Don’t want to sign up... see how you guys celebrate Hari Raya.”).

But don’t worry if you didn’t register. Rafizi, who is spearheading the campaign, said the government will use the existing data to determine the eligibility of individuals who can receive subsidies.

On March 27, Rafizi said there could be another window for registration, “maybe towards the end of the year, or in a few months” after the government implements the targeted subsidies. He repeated the promise earlier today after announcing the final figures.

“If necessary, the Economy Ministry will announce the reopening of Padu for a short period for registration and updates, after the government decides on the form and mechanism for targeted subsidies,” Rafizi said in a statement.

Four states that recorded the lowest number of registrations were Selangor (44.5 per cent), Sarawak (46.7 per cent), Kuala Lumpur (47.6 per cent) and Johor (48.4 per cent).

Sarawak’s low numbers were expected, as on March 22, its Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister, Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah, said there was a need to review the exercise, and urged Sarawakians not to register with Padu.

On March 25, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan requested that the Federal Government defer registration, and reassess the system.

Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong, in a statement today, urged the government to reveal the amount it had spent on Padu. This comes after MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, on his Facebook account on March 24, posted: “RM80 million has been allocated to set up the Padu system. Frankly, this cost is not cheap. Can’t we upgrade the eKasih system that we have been using?”

For the record, the eKasih system is an integrated database system of poor households created at the national level to help plan, implement, and monitor poverty programmes. The system was used as a reference by ministries/agencies directly and indirectly involved in poverty alleviation programmes.

Meanwhile, the country’s Chief Statistician, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin, insisted that Padu is an effective way for the government to hand out subsidies.

“By updating your data, the government will know who qualifies for subsidies and aid,” Uzir said.

“The old data may not include your latest marriage, or record if your wife had given birth to twins. The household expenditure will be different, compared to a year ago,” he added.

“Maybe you lost your job. We need to know these details. The reasoning behind Padu is to help Malaysians and ease the government’s financial burden, by ensuring that only those deserving, received subsidies.”

He added that the department, which is under the Economic Ministry, is now busy collating the data and double-checking the information.

“It has been a busy time. It won’t stop yet. We want to ensure that everyone gets what they deserve,” he added.

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