PUTRAJAYA: The implementation of the Central Database Hub (Padu), if successful, is expected to help the country achieve a fiscal deficit target of between three and 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2025.
Fiscal deficit is expected at five per cent of GDP for 2023.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said Padu will provide a more accurate measurement of the socio-economic status of the people based on net disposable income, preventing misallocation.
"This measurement method takes into account the number of dependents, household size, cost of living based on location, proximity to workplace, and ownership of assets such as homes, vehicles, and land.
"This approach also allows the government to move away from the B40, M40, and T20 concept and focus more on providing assistance based on established criteria of fairness," he said at the launch of Padu today.
Rafizi said Padu encompasses individual profiles containing basic demographic information, address, education, household composition, employment, income, commitments, and received assistance.
He added that while Padu was developed through the internal expertise of the Economy Ministry, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM), and the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (Mampu), and various ministries, agencies, and state governments, there was still information involving 39 variables that needs to be updated by each individual.
Rafizi said updates by individuals will ensure the authenticity of information and data, depicting the current status of the population in Padu, enhancing the targeting mechanism, and strengthening delivery channels.
Padu is part of the Govtech initiative, to provide a secure, comprehensive, and nearly real-time national database that enables more accurate data analytics.
Rafizi said the initiative focuses on efforts to restructure the economy, making Malaysia a leading economy in Asia and ultimately providing the people with the benefits for a better quality of life.
On concerns over data leaks, Rafizi said the government has established secure data handling, and comprehensive standard operating procedures and appointed a group of independent experts in various fields to serve as checks and balances, to ensure that Padu incorporates the latest and best security features.
Additionally, a strategic cooperation has been initiated between the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), the Chief Government Security Officer's Office (CGSO), CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM), and the Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP) of the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) to enhance security, prevent data leaks, and ensure the protection of personal data.