Launched on 2 January, the Central Database Hub (PADU) is an ambitious plan by the Federal Government through the Economy Ministry to streamline data on citizens and permanent residents (PRs) in Malaysia and ensure that the information is up to date.
Touted as the most comprehensive database established by the Malaysian Government to date, PADU contains individual and household profiles of citizens and permanent residents in our country and essentially enables the government to have more accurate data analytics for policy formulation and data-driven decision-making, especially as we move towards a targeted subsidy policy.
In fact, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli previously told Malaysians to “not get upset” if they don’t get subsidies should they not register for PADU and update their information in the database.
Only 12.1% have updated their information on PADU
However, despite all that, the number of people who have updated their information on PADU remained low, even afer almost 2 months of the initiative being launched.
In a Facebook post by PADU today, it was revealed that only 3.64 million citizens and PRs had updated their information on the database as of 11.59pm yesterday (20 February).
For context, PADU said that there are 30.08 million Malaysians and PRs in our country as per the data on the existing administration database.
Hence, only around 12.1% of the 30.08 million people have updated their info on PADU, far from the 29 million target before 31 March set by the government during the database’s launch. As reported by BERNAMA, this 29 million target was announced by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Accordingly, some 25.36 million people need to update their info on PADU in just over 1 month for the target to be achieved.
Do note that the 30.08 million number is also likely not accurate as the latest population in Malaysia as per the Department of Statistics (DOSM) is 33.7 million, with 2.7 million being non-citizens. Ironically, these population data discrepancies are one of the main reasons why PADU was established in the first place.
PADU’s system might get “jammed” due to many last-minute logins
The large number of people not yet updating their info on PADU may also pose a different problem soon as should people access the database simultaneously to update their info at the last minute, PADU’s system may get “jammed”.
This is according to Chief Statistician of DOSM Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin who was previously quoted by BERNAMA as advising Malaysians against updating their info at the last minute as the system is like a highway and it will be congested if everyone logs in at the same time.
DOSM Chief Statistician
So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
