Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s central database hub - Pangkalan Data Utama (PADU), launched in January 2024, aims to centralise personal and socioeconomic data from various government agencies into a single, unified database, but there are also concerns about its data security and transparency.
The PADU is intended to streamline public service delivery and enhance policymaking through comprehensive data integration.
Nuurrianti Jalli, a visiting fellow at the Media, Technology and Society Programme at Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) – Yusof Ishak Institute, said that in the rapidly evolving landscape of digital governance, nations worldwide are grappling with the challenges and opportunities presented by large-scale data integration initiatives.
As Malaysia’s recent foray into this arena, the PADU represents a bold step towards centralised data management, Jalli said.
However, it ignited a firestorm of debate over issues of privacy, federalism, and the very nature of the social contract between citizens and the state, she said.
While the PADU system promises more efficient resource allocation, reduced bureaucratic redundancies, and improved public services, its implementation faces significant challenges. These include technical difficulties in data integration, ensuring data accuracy, managing updates across multiple agencies, and addressing privacy concerns.
As Malaysia moves forward with PADU, it will be crucial to balance the potential benefits of streamlined governance and data-driven policymaking with the imperative of protecting citizens’ rights and maintaining public trust. The ongoing debates and reactions, particularly on platforms like Reddit, reflect a vibrant discourse on the future of digital governance in Malaysia, signalling a need for transparency, inclusivity, and continuous dialogue between the government and its citizens, according to Jalli./.
