GEORGE TOWN, February 21 ― Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that as of February 14, a total of 162,548 Penang residents, equivalent to 12.9 percent of the population, have registered with the Central Database Hub (Padu). He urged all residents aged 18 and above to register promptly to ensure the government has accurate and up-to-date information for efficient service delivery. Chow emphasized the importance of accurate data analytics in making informed decisions, especially regarding incentives for the needy.
While acknowledging the progress, he highlighted the need to meet the state Department of Statistics Malaysia’s target of registering 1.2 million people, representing 80 percent of the population, with Padu. The Timur Laut district recorded the highest number of registrations, followed by Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah, Barat Daya, and Seberang Perai Selatan. In a separate update, Chow mentioned that despite the Air Itam Dam’s effective capacity remaining at 32.4 percent for the past 10 days, measures have been implemented to sustain water supply.
Penang has also requested cloud seeding from the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) due to the drop in water levels in Sungai Muda, Kedah, caused by the ongoing dry spell. Additionally, Chow assured that the Mengkuang Dam’s capacity is sufficient for the next 130 days, while the Teluk Bahang Dam can cater to users’ needs for up to 257 days.
