KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have criticised the slow and time-consuming process of registering both online and physically in the Central Database Hub (Padu).
The News Straits Time interviewed several people today doing their last-minute registration at one of the physical counters at Giant Batu Caves here as the deadline loomed on Sunday.
There was a crowd of more than 50 people in the premises.
Subashini Sivasithamparam faced difficulties in doing the process online and had to opt for last-minute registration at the nearest physical counter to help herself and her mother.
"I registered online for both me and my mother last week, but we are having an issue with the official website as it can't recognise my mother's face for facial recognition.
"Hence, that is why I am here today at the Giant Batu Caves counter to fix the issue and I hope we will get the promised benefits that the government said after we complete the Padu registration," she said.
Subashini added that she was confused as to why her mother also needed to register since she was a recipient of Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M).
"I was hesitant about why my mother had to register her personal information again for Padu as before this, she received benefits like BR1M.
"Doesn't that mean the government already has her information? Why would we need to register again to update her personal information?" Subashini asked.
Similarly, Mohd Bakri Mohd Jamal, another registrant who is a recipient of welfare benefits from the government, questioned why he had to register all over again with Padu.
"I believe the government has my information already, but since this is mandatory to all Malaysians, I might as well register before the closing date," he said.
Although Bakri preferred to do a physical registration and had all his documents ready, he said it was exhausting to wait in line for hours with his wife.
"I tried coming here (Giant Batu Caves) two days ago, but it was too crowded that I had to go home and come back another day.
"I'm not familiar with online registration as all of my children said it is easier to register physically. Plus, I'm not tech-savvy and often need my children's help when it comes to technology," he added.
Another registrant, who only wanted to be known as Lim, said both registration methods were inconvenient.
"The official website is slow and strenuous for someone who is not tech-savvy because it keeps refreshing the website whenever I try to register online.
"The physical counters, on the other hand, are only located at very few locations and there are long queues.
"This is the last minute for people to register in Padu before the closing date, so I expect more crowds during the weekend," he said.
As the deadline approached, deputy senior statistical officer Nor Hazimah Yeop Abd Rashid said people were registering last minute in anticipation of the monthly cash benefits announced by Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli recently.
"Earlier, the government announced that people should provide their personal information only. So, they don't see the practical use of updating their information in Padu," she said.
"Now, almost at the closing date of registration, Rafizi announced at a town hall in Shah Alam that subsidy benefits will go straight into their bank accounts monthly."
On March 23, Rafizi announced that the government was considering implementing targeted aid through monthly cash transfers, and discussions were underway regarding its potential implementation.
With the deadline looming, Nor Hazimah gave an assurance to Malaysians that Padu centres, including the hotspot centres and Nadi offices in Selangor, would remain operational to accommodate last-minute registrations.