KUALA LUMPUR – Former deputy minister of investment, trade, and industry, Ong Kian Ming, has reiterated his belief that the government’s newly launched Central Database Hub (Padu) brings the risk of identity theft.
In a tweet today, Ong said that he had obtained Identification Card (IC) details from four ministers and deputy ministers from the electoral roll before registering them on Padu using his own phone number and email address.
“Now they cannot register their accounts themselves,” the Selangor DAP treasurer said in the post.
The individuals used in Ong’s supposed experiment are his DAP colleagues, namely Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong, and Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.
In response, netizens urged Ong to directly raise the issue with Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli or other government representatives.
Earlier, Ong took to social media to urge the public to immediately register themselves on Padu, saying, “If not, anyone with your IC and postcode of the address on your IC can register on your behalf.”
This, he said, is compounded by the fact that the registration can be completed without the electronic Know-Your-Customer (e-KYC) approval, which verifies a user’s identity.
Claiming that the e-KYC approval will take three days to complete, Ong said that it will be a “hassle” for users to “get back” their accounts.
Previously, it was reported that barely hours after its launch this afternoon, netizens were quick to air their grievances with Padu’s registration process.
Several X users highlighted the issues they faced with the database’s registration system, claiming that they are experiencing problems with the digital identity verification step of the process.
Some said that despite multiple attempts to verify their identity by scanning the QR code provided on Padu’s website, they have been unable to proceed to the next section of their account registration.
Meanwhile, in response to Ong, Rafizi said in a tweet that the former Bangi MP’s claim that the e-KYC process will take three days is incorrect, as Padu users have managed to verify their information in less than five minutes.
“(Users’) registration is only complete after the e-KYC process (which involves uploading a picture of yourself and your IC) is completed. Without the e-KYC process, the registration is incomplete and invalid.
“The registration process has eKYC as the final step to facilitate the registration, taking into account (past) experiences of the e-KYC step having to be done several times before an identity is verified by its algorithm,” the minister added.
Rafizi also said that if citizens find that their account has been registered by someone else, they can contact the Padu helpdesk.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched Padu, a system encompassing household and individual profiles that include both locals and permanent residents in Malaysia, at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
The system enables the production of more accurate data analytics, facilitates data-driven policy formulation, and enhances decision-making processes while supporting targeted policy implementation to balance the nation’s fiscal position.
All citizens aged 18 and above must register, make data revisions, and verify 39 necessary details on Padu’s portal within three months of its launch. – January 2, 2024