PUTRAJAYA, December 31 – Malaysians have been granted a three-month window, until March 31 next year, to update and validate their information in the Central Database System (Padu), according to Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. The public can initiate the update process after the launch of Padu on January 2, 2024. Rafizi assured that no action would be taken for those choosing not to update, although they can opt out if they wish. The government will utilize readily available information in various databases to assess household profiles and eligibility for targeted subsidies.
The initial phase of Padu will concentrate on collecting information and data from industries and federal government agencies. Padu integrates microdata from diverse government entities to formulate individual and household profiles. Rafizi emphasized that although all data is available, the government aims to ensure its currency. Unique cases, such as discrepancies in address information or absence of data for those in the informal sector, will be addressed by validating existing data.
To incentivize the public to update their information, service providers like Touch ‘n Go will offer complimentary near-field communication-enabled (NFC) cards for the first 3,000 registrants or updaters with Padu. Retailers, including the Mydin hypermarket chain, will extend discounts to these early participants. Rafizi stressed that opting out might lead to non-receipt of targeted subsidies, urging understanding from the public in such cases.
