PETALING JAYA: Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli is wrong in saying non-Malays are shunning the Central Database Hub (Padu) due to thinking they are not eligible for government assistance, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

He said Rafizi should instead address their distrust and scepticism in the embattled database’s ability to safeguard personal data.

Dr Wee said that despite two months of Rafizi’s efforts to convince the people of Padu’s data security, many Malaysians still distrust the system due to a lack of information about the system’s functions – with even the Sarawak government deciding to defer registrations on the system.

He added that there was no clear information about how the Padu data would be used.

“YB (Rafizi), these are reasons why people do not register with Padu, regardless of whether they are bumiputra or non-bumiputra,” he said in a video posted on his social media account.

With the need to submit a myriad of personal information – including MyKad numbers, property, banking and family information – Dr Wee said the reason many do not register for Padu is over worries about security and data leakages.

“In the event of any leaks, who would be most happy? Cybercriminals, scammers,” he said, adding that Rafizi himself revealed that there had been two million hacking attempts on Padu, justifying public fears.

“Can YB personally 100% guarantee there won’t be any hacks or leaks of information in Padu, which gathers the entire population’s personal data in one place?”

He disagreed with Rafizi linking the low number of registrations in Padu among non-Malays to their belief that they are ineligible for any aid and not due to a distrust in Padu, despite Rafizi’s assertion that over 90% of non-Malay voters had confidence in the Madani coalition government.

Dr Wee reminded Rafizi of the government assistance to the people given pre-2018 without making race a factor, listing subsidies for petrol, diesel, sugar and rice, senior citizen discounts for ETS services by KTM, 1Malaysia book vouchers and Klinik 1Malaysia as examples.

“These subsidies were for all Malaysians no matter their race. So what does YB (Rafizi) mean by most non-bumiputra have never received assistance?”.

Dr Wee suggested the government should instead upgrade and update the existing eKasih system for B40 households and leave the personal data of the rakyat within their existing agencies such as the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), banks, National Registration Department (NRD) and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

For targeted assistance, let it be applied directly by those who are eligible for it, he suggested.

“For example, those that want to receive BR1M, which is now changed to Rahmah Cash Aid, they only need to complete forms to show their financial status to be eligible. To get the 1Malaysia Book Voucher, they need to only show their student cards.”

“Isn’t it better this way? Why the need to place all data under one place in Padu?” asked Dr Wee.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/03/28/wee-rafizi-should-address-distrust-about-padu