Padu registration hits 58.7 percent at deadline

 

A total of 17.65 million public profiles - equivalent to 58.7 percent of people including household members aged under 18 were successfully updated in the Central Database Hub (Padu) at the close of registration yesterday.

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said from the figure, 11.55 million or 52.6 percent of citizens with their profiles updated were over the age of 18.

“I express my appreciation to all Malaysians who have taken the initiative to register with Padu,” he said.

Across the country, Perlis recorded the highest rate of Padu registration at 66.9 percent, followed by Kelantan at 65.2 percent, and Terengganu with 62.7 percent.

Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak and Selangor recorded the lowest figures, at less than 50 percent of registration.

Rafizi, however, thanked and congratulated the Padu system development team at the Economy Ministry, Department of Statistics Malaysia, National Digital Department, Communications Ministry and also other agencies involved in the system’s implementation.

“High and unwavering commitment has been shown by the Padu team since registration opened on the first day,” he said.

Rafizi said his ministry will proceed to table its subsidy re-targeting plan to the cabinet this month.

“The government will announce development on the matter at a later date,” he said.

Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli

Available data sufficient

For citizens who did not successfully register and update their profiles with Padu, Rafizi reaffirmed that the available administrative data is sufficient and will be used to determine individual eligibility for retargeting subsidies.

“If there is a need, the Economy Ministry will announce the reopening of Padu for a short period for registration and updating, after the government decides on the form and mechanism of targeted subsidies,” he said.

Yesterday, chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin said Malaysians who do not update their data on Padu will have their basic information automatically registered.

However, he said more complete information is needed although various government agencies have collected basic data on Malaysians.

Padu was launched earlier this year as a centralised database to ensure subsidies are better disbursed, taking into account not only take-home pay but also the individual or household’s financial obligations. - Mkini