Phase 2 of Padu registration after Cabinet nod, says Rafizi

 

Economy minister Rafizi Ramli said previously many in the M40 group had wrongly assumed they would not be eligible for subsidies, and that discouraged them from registering with Padu.

PUTRAJAYA: 

Registration for the second phase of the government’s central database hub (Padu) will be opened after the Cabinet approves several criteria which are currently being refined by the ministries involved, says economy minister Rafizi Ramli.

He said the government, through his ministry and the finance ministry as the lead agencies, would finalise the details before presenting it to the Cabinet.

“I have mentioned in Parliament that any form of targeted subsidy for RON95 will involve two implementation phases. The first is the backend, to determine who is eligible, and the second is the frontend, involving the operations at petrol stations.

“We had a meeting last week and plans regarding the timeframe and implementation were discussed. Once the Cabinet agrees, the economy ministry can announce the timeframe (for the implementation),” he said.

Rafizi expressed confidence that more people would register with Padu to ensure they were not left out of any government assistance, particularly subsidies for RON95 petrol.

“I believe public registration will be higher this time around compared with before,” he said.

Approximately 55% of households, primarily those in the low-income group, registered for Padu during the first phase earlier this year.

Rafizi said there was an assumption previously that those in the M40 group would not be eligible for subsidies, discouraging them from registering.

“Now, with the government clarifying that only the T15 and above are ineligible, I think more people will register,” he added. - FMT