'Smoothly running' Padu to remain open for registration ― Fahmi

Wednesday 25 Dec 2024

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 3): The government has decided to keep registration for the Central Database Hub (Padu) open despite the system's troubling launch on Tuesday, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Fahmi said Putrajaya’s executive branch did not make a decision to suspend Padu, as they found the system to be “running smoothly”.

“The issues raised have been successfully resolved in a very short period of time, and the monitoring of security aspects continues,” Fahmi told the press, noting that the matter of suspending the system was not raised.

“So, it was launched yesterday (Tuesday) and will continue. It will not be suspended,” he added.

Former deputy investment, trade, and industry minister Dr Ong Kian Ming had called for the Cabinet to suspend the registration of Padu until the security issues are resolved.

On Tuesday, Ong, a former DAP lawmaker, illustrated on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that he was able to override the access to Padu accounts of his party colleagues, including Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching, merely through the use of IC numbers and postcodes.

Fahmi said Economy Minister Mohd Rafizi Ramli had informed the Cabinet that the matter was resolved on Tuesday night.

He said that without the electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) process of registration being completed, information updated will not be integrated into Padu.

“The issues that were raised yesterday (Tuesday) will be constantly monitored, and the government takes personal data security seriously, and will ensure that no unwanted incidents occur,” Fahmi said. “This is a very important matter for the government, and there is no doubt that cybersecurity is a matter of priority for the government.”

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