KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — The design of Malaysia’s welfare programme, based on analysis results from the Malaysian Central Database Hub (Padu), is expected to be submitted to the Federal Cabinet by the end of this month, Mingguan Malaysia reported today.
Chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Uzir Mahidin, head of the Malaysian Statistics Department, told the paper that the information from Padu was still being analysed and verified and people were in the process of updating the data.
He said once the verification is completed, the verified data would be taken to the Ministry of Economy to formulate public welfare programmes such as social assistance and rationalisation of subsidies.
“The design of the programme will then be decided at the highest level, i.e. Cabinet, and will be implemented within this month,” he was quoted as saying.
He said the data from Padu would provide a more up-to-date picture of Malaysians by combining macro and micro analysis.
“It will include up to the district level. Modelling approach and scenario analysis will also be carried out,” he was quoted as saying.
Padu was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on January 2.
Registration officially closed on March 31, with a total of 11.5 million Malaysians having updated their information.
This figure represents 52.6 per cent of the government’s overall target of 30.9 million Malaysians aged 18 and above.
Mohammed Uzir was reportedly asked whether Padu’s registration would be reopened for those who had not yet registered.
“At present, it is still in the analysis stage. The decision on whether Padu will reopen will be based on the need, as stated by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli in a statement issued on April 1,” he told the Sunday edition of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.
Rafizi, in a statement, said he would not rule out reopening Padu registration for a short period, if necessary, after the government has decided on a targeted subsidy scheme.
