Padu: Room for improvement at PEDi to ease registration

KUALA LUMPUR: There is still room to improve services at the Digital Economy Centres (PEDi) to ease the process of registration and filling out information for the Central Database Hub (Padu) system.

Federal Territory Statistics Department director Siti Zakiah Muhamad Isa said the improvements include providing Chinese and Tamil interpreters because there is still a language barrier to complete the necessary information.

She said this delayed the process of filling out information for the Padu system, causing congestion at some centres.

“There could also be increased cooperation between several PEDi in the same area to handle the crowds and increase staff to facilitate a more organised and smooth registration process,” she told reporters at the People’s Housing Project (PPR) PEDi in Salak Selatan, here Thursday (Jan 4).

The public started crowding PEDi centres nationwide after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched Padu from Jan 2 to March 31, 2024, requiring citizens aged 18 and above to verify or update their household data.

Meanwhile, in Kedah, State Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) assistant director Sharliza Saary said she found a very encouraging response from the public at the Bawah Gunung PEDi in Baling, Kedah, many of whom arrived at the centre as early as 9am.

“In addition to obtaining more information about Padu, they also used the facilities available to fill out their information,” she said when met by BK at PEDi Pekan Sik near here, Thursday.

In Negri Sembilan, Rozina Ahmat, 51, said she filled out her information for Padu at the Senawang 1 PEDi assisted by the statistics officer there.

The single mother of nine said the officers on duty and their excellent service enabled her to easily fill out the required details as she was not good at doing it online.

“It was very fast. I have also encouraged my friends in the area to fill out their information. No need to worry if they do not know how to do it, the officials at PEDi will help. No problem,” she said.

In Terengganu, Telaga Daing PEDi manager Aimi Nadia Azmi said the government’s continuous publicity about Padu through numerous media platforms has resulted in the public’s confidence in the registration process.

“People used to be afraid of the dangers of giving out personal information, afraid of being scammed, and so on. But with the government’s continuous promotion through news and media, people understand. They do not ask much or worry about leakage of personal information,” he said.

In Johor, hotel worker Afiq Danish Roslan, 18, suggested that Padu registration counters be set up in public places to encourage more people to register.

“Yesterday, I tried to register at home several times but failed. Today, I came on some other business to this office and saw a Padu registration counter. It was so easy to register,” he said. – BK