KUALA LUMPUR (March 27): The need to register with the Central Data Base Hub (Padu) system is important to facilitate the government to review, research, analyse and profile proposals, or draft better and more effective programmes to benefit the people.

Statistics Department chief statistician Datuk Seri Uzir Mahidin said many programmes can be designed and created to achieve their goals and effectiveness with good data from this system.

"This is the reason why there is a need for a ‘cut off’ dateline; so that we can see what proposals can be brought forward to each ministry and their respective ministers and to be presented to the cabinet," he said on Bernama TV in the Malaysia Petang Ini programme.

Although the National Registration Department, the Education Ministry, the Social Security Organisation (or Socso), the Accountant General’s Department and other agencies already have this public information, the Padu system provides an opportunity for people to update their data.

"We will see the validity, authenticity and appropriateness of whether it can be implemented by the government, and we can identify who should receive aid and how much to be channelled.

"Additionally, we can also draw insight (from this) to make the necessary future improvements, spending patterns and the rationalisation needed in the programmes that will be decided by the government from time to time," said Mohd Uzir.

A total of 8.45 million people have registered on the Padu system since its Jan 2, 2024 launch.

Mohd Uzir said with only five days left to the March 31 deadline, more than 5,000 physical counters have been set up nationwide to make it easier for the elderly and those who need to update their information.

For those who are IT literate, he suggested that they register online without going to a physical counter.

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