KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the Central Database Hub (Padu), which was launched yesterday, aims to prevent further leakages of government funds and ensure that only deserving Malaysians receive government benefits and subsidies.
In a Facebook and X post today, he revealed that the government has allocated approximately RM22 billion to assist the poor, especially in rural areas. However, studies found that not all of the funds have reached the intended recipients due to various leakages in the system.
“Despite the current subsidy of almost RM80 billion intended to benefit the poor, it is being enjoyed by 3.5 million foreigners as well as the wealthy.
“If the government spends RM22 billion and RM80 billion on benefits and subsidies to help the poor and the needy, how is it possible that we still have hardcore poverty in the country?
“And because of this, I’m not willing to let this leakage of government funds continue, nor will I allow the rights of the poor and needy to be taken away by those who are rich and well-to-do,” he said.
He highlighted that this is the reason why Padu was launched – to put a stop to leakages occurring in the distribution of government funds to the people.
Anwar officially launched Padu yesterday, paving the way for a fairer distribution of targeted subsidies for Malaysians in need.
Registration for Padu opened yesterday and will continue until March 31, allowing the public to update and verify personal information, such as their identity card number, household number, and address.
Malaysian citizens aged 18 and above are encouraged to register and update their information on Padu’s website.
Padu, now considered the most comprehensive database established by the government to date, is a system containing individual and household profiles encompassing citizens and permanent residents in Malaysia.
The objective of Padu is to provide a safe, comprehensive, and near-real-time national main database that enables more accurate data analytics, facilitates policy formulation, and supports data-driven decision-making processes. It also enables targeted policy implementation to balance the fiscal position. – January 3, 2024