Economic Minister Rafizi Ramli has debunked concerns that Malaysians can be locked out of registering for a Central Database Hub (Padu) account by others.
This was after former Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming called on the public to register for an account quickly, citing concerns regarding identity theft.
Responding to this in a social media update, Rafizi said account registration on Padu is not completed until the e-KYC process is completed.
The e-KYC process requires users to take photos of their MyKad, as well as a selfie, to verify their identity.
Rafizi said the e-KYC was done last to make it easier for registration, as the process may take several tries.
Padu, launched for personal detail updates and government subsidies, has a registration deadline of March 31.
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil assured Malaysians of Padu’s cybersecurity, involving entities like the National Cyber Security Agency, CyberSecurity Malaysia, and the Department of Personal Data Protection in its development.
Fahmi emphasized the system’s security and urged Malaysians to use Padu without worries about their personal data.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo hailed Padu’s launch as a historic milestone, emphasizing the importance of updating information.
How to register a Padu account
The registration can be done at www.padu.gov.my and is entirely in Malay for now.
- Go to Padu’s website and click on DAFTAR SEKARANG.
- Enter your full name as per your MyKad (IC), your MyKad (IC) number and the postcode, as per your MyKad address.
- Enter your current and active mobile number as well as your email address.
- A one-time password (OTP) will be sent to your number. Key in the 6-digit OTP on the website to continue.
- Enter your Padu password. It must include at least eight characters with a combination of uppercase, lowercase, number and a unique character (e.g. @%$!?&).
- The final step is Padu’s electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) process to verify your identity. For this step, you’ll need to have a smartphone and your MyKad (IC) with you.
(a) The Padu website will generate a dynamic QR code which you scan with your phone’s camera app. Your smartphone will then load a Padu Identify Verification page. You will be required to grant the website access to your phone’s camera.
(b) The eKYC process will require you to snap a picture for both sides of your MyKad. You’ll have to ensure that the entire MyKad is visible with sufficient light and there’s no visible glare. The details of your IC including your full name and IC number must be visible as well.
(c) The final step is to take a selfie picture and you must ensure that your face is within the displayed outline. Once that’s done, your photos will be submitted for verification, and it is mentioned that it will take three days.
However, from users’ experience, the eKYC was approved almost immediately and you’ll be notified by both email and SMS. The entire registration, including eKYC, took less than 10 minutes.
Take note:
- The Padu portal seems to be geo-locked to Malaysian IPs only. If you’re using a VPN, you must disable it to access the site.
- For Samsung Galaxy smartphone users, you may encounter an issue when taking a selfie. Some users might see a message that the eKYC page is trying to activate the lens. If you face this issue, tap on “tukar lensa” button on the top left corner to switch to the front-facing camera.
After your verification is complete, you can then log in to the website and go through the process of updating your details.
This is a comprehensive list, with information required ranging from your household details, current address, job details, distance from home to work, monthly commitments, income and other sources of revenue, and any aid that you already currently receive.
Rafizi said that this could help the government determine one’s socioeconomic status by factoring in their financial commitments.
“It would help with frequent issues faced in the past such as when someone comes to receive government aid but arrives in a Mercedes Benz,” he said.
It would also do away with the B40, M40, and T20 classifications that do not factor in an individual’s net salary.
How this will exactly factor into the aid and subsidy distribution has not been laid out.
The B40, M40, and T20 labels have been criticised in the past for not accurately capturing one’s living status, such as those experiencing urban poverty, or those with large family commitments.
At the same time, the government aims to ensure that the “ultra-rich” no longer enjoy subsidies meant for those with lesser means.
At this point, not all data points have been populated on Padu’s system; most sections, including personal income, are still empty.