PADU Paves Way For Targeted Fuel Subsidy Coming In H2 2024

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (centre) with Economic Affairs Minister Rafizi Ramli (third from right) at the launch of PADU in Putrajaya earlier today. (Image source: Facebook)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially launched the Pengkalan Data Utama (PADU) central database hub in Putrajaya earlier today. This new system is set to enable better and accurate dispersion of subsidies to the rakyat – RON95 and Diesel fuels, as well as electricity included.

In a nutshell, PADU serves an integrated national socio-economic database where all available data of individuals and households collected from government departments and agencies are combined – 70 of which are at the federal level.

As noted by Economic Minister Rafizi Ramli, PADU will allow the government to shift from the previous B40-M40-T20 classification scheme towards assessing any individual’s eligibility to any subsidies or assistance packages distributed by the government.

The government will utilise PADU as a key component in how it retargets subsidies and assistances. Household nett disposable income metrics are set to provide the reference and fairer assessments of the socio-economic position of every Malaysian household.

In turn, PADU’s establishment is poised to pave the way for the government to implement targeted RON95 fuel subsidy for the rakyat. Besides which, PADU is also poised to be the base for an upcoming targeted electricity subsidy as well.

Last Nov, Rafizi had updated that the upcoming new targeted fuel subsidy scheme is 72% complete after 29.8 million cross-ministerial and agency data were compiled. This is set to be rolled out and implemented in the second half (H2) of this year.

Managed by the Statistics Department, PADU is also poised to be more than just a tool to determine subsidies – it will also aid in improving the government’s efficiency and help determine an assortment of economic elements.

Presently, PADU contains nearly 300 types of federal government-related data, and it will soon have more from state and local governments included gradually. As for safety, the database is protected by what is deemed a high level of cyber security.

In terms of access, Rafizi assures that there will be no changes to personal data that’s currently owned by other government departments or agencies. He clarified further in saying that existing laws of the respective government departments or agencies govern all data PADU uses.

Registration for PADU is not mandatory yet, but the government urges all rakyat aged 1 and up to do so by 31 March. (Image source: Facebook)

Registration is not mandatory yet, but the government is encouraging all members of the rakyat aged 18 and up to register their profiles and furnish it with all the necessary details online via padu.gov.my by 31 March.

Offline registration, on the other hand, can also be done by registering at district offices, village community management councils (MPKK) and with local authorities.