Padu: Rural Malaysians face barriers to register
JELI - Lack of access to technology and illiteracy are preventing some residents in the rural areas of Jeli and Rantau Panjang from registering with the central database hub, or Padu.
A recent survey revealed that some residents were completely unaware of the new government initiative launched last week.
Mohd Noor Jusoh, a 70-year-old banana farmer from Kampung Jeli Lama, admitted hearing about Padu for the first time while speaking to Sinar.
He explained that reaching the "golden age" and limited mobile phone skills kept him out of the loop.
"I don't follow the news and didn't know what Padu was.
"Before, for phone registrations like the Rahmah Cash Contribution, I'd wait for my kids to help," he said.
Similar challenges face Ismail Salleh, 66, and his wife Rosmiza Abdullah, 60, from Kampung Kuala Balah.
Though aware of Padu from television, navigating online registration proved daunting.
"I understand its purpose, but I don't know how to register," he said.
He relies on his six children in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan for such tasks.
In Rantau Panjang, Saidi Saufi, 50, a person with disabilities living in Lalang Pepuyu, grapples with illiteracy as a barrier.
"I can't write or read. WhatsApp uses voice messages, so how can I register?" he explained.
He plans to seek help from relatives upon learning about Padu.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially launched Padu on Jan 2, paving the way towards a fairer distribution of targeted subsidies for Malaysians in need.
Padu will play a crucial role as the provider of a secure and comprehensive national database, enabling more precise data analytics and decision-making processes through data integration.
This initiative is poised to bring about increased efficiency, transparency, and security in managing public data at a national level.
