Malaysia is taking steps to enhance the efficiency of delivering government services and targeted subsidies through the introduction of a new central database system known as Pangkalan data utama (Padu).
In a collaborative effort involving Malaysia’s Ministry of Economy, the Department of Statistics (DOSM), and the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit, Padu is designed to consolidate comprehensive information on citizens and permanent residents. This centralized data repository will be accessible to all government agencies.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that Padu will serve as a national database containing socio-economic information for every household in the country. The platform aims to provide regular analytics with data updated in “near real-time,” facilitating data-driven policymaking and decision-making while enabling the targeted implementation of policies.
The government envisions that Padu will enhance the effective distribution of subsidies by utilizing data from over 400 government agencies and other relevant organizations, excluding bank information systems. Prime Minister Ibrahim stated that this initiative aligns with Malaysia’s broader efforts to digitize systems, ultimately reducing costs and minimizing wastage.
The development of Padu has been underway since June 2023 and is anticipated to integrate with MyDigital ID, Malaysia’s national digital identification system, at a later stage.
Padu currently encompasses nearly 300 types of data under the federal government, with expectations that data from state and local governments will be incorporated in the future. This initiative reflects Malaysia’s commitment to modernizing its systems and leveraging digital solutions for more efficient governance.
