Malaysians Have 3 Months To Update Info In Padu Database

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The public can start updating their information after the launch of Padu by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Jan 2.PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians will be given a three-month period until March 31 next year to update and verify their information with the national Central Database System (PADU).
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the public can start updating their information after the launch of Padu by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Jan 2.
The minister added that no action will be taken against those who do not update their information in the database system.
However, Rafizi said those involved are at risk of being excluded from receiving targeted subsidies that will use updated data in PADU later.
The risk of exclusion could occur because the government only uses existing information and information updated in PADU to determine the household profile and eligibility for those who qualify for targeted subsidies or otherwise.
"According to its mandate, PADU is tasked with providing the most accurate household profiles for the targeted reassignment of subsidies.
"If you do not update your data, there is no problem, but if you do not receive (subsidies), don't be angry," he said at a press conference here today.
Rafizi said PADU will be launched next Tuesday (January 2) and access will be open to the public for updates until March 31, 2024.
He noted that the public will be able to begin updating their data during that period at specific locations.
Rafizi said PADU is a key component of the government's large-scale economic restructuring plan, serving as the main database with profiles of each individual and household.
This information will be a reference for determining the targeted reassignment of subsidies or other assistance in the future.
Adding further, Rafizi said the data in PADU, managed by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), covers nearly 300 types of data under the federal government.
Simultaneously, he said the data from state and local governments will be gradually included.
Responding to a question whether banking data will also be included in PADU, Rafizi replied in the negative.
This, he said, was because the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989 (BAFIA) does not permit the use of such data by anyone.
Rafizi assured the public that there will be no changes in the ownership of data utilised by PADU for targeted subsidy disbursement to Malaysians.
He added that even though all agencies contribute data, not all agencies can take all data for their own use.
The minister stressed that all data used by PADU remains governed by the existing acts of the respective government departments or agencies.
Therefore, he said, the data in PADU is only used by specific agencies according to the intended use and not arbitrarily.
"The ownership of data is still controlled by the acts of the respective government departments or agencies.
"How to share data between agencies will be determined by the government according to the goals of use. The first use case is only targeting subsidies.
"Therefore, there is no question about sharing this data with any party because it is against the law," he said in response to a question about previous data leakages involving government agencies.
Rafizi said in conjunction with the launch of PADU next week, the first 3,000 people to register and update their data in PADU will receive a free NFC Touch 'n Go card.
He added that Mydin hypermarkets are also offering discounts to those who register with PADU. - NST

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