Anwar launched Padu yesterday in a bid to ensure the efficient delivery of targeted subsidies, one of the government’s priorities for 2024.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said the government had spent more than RM100 billion on programmes for the needy and subsidies, much of which had been lost to “wastage and leakage”.
Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the government had spent more than RM22 billion to assist the poor and those in need, especially in rural and remote areas.
However, he said studies indicated that various inefficiencies prevented these groups from receiving the full amount.
“Even subsidies, now amounting to nearly RM80 billion (and) which should only benefit the needy, are also enjoyed by 3.5 million foreigners and the wealthy,” he said.
“How is it possible that hardcore poverty still exists in this country when RM22 billion in expenditure and RM80 billion in subsidies is supposed to reach the poor and the needy?
“I am not willing to let this wastage of government funds continue, or allow the rich and well-off to take what rightfully belongs to the needy.
“This is why Padu was launched… with the aim of stopping this wastage and leakage to ensure that only the needy can enjoy subsidies and other benefits through effective subsidy targeting.”
In June last year, Anwar said he wanted the entire government machinery to work together to eradicate hardcore poverty in the country by 2023.
He repeated the government’s vow on Sept 11 when tabling the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review in the Dewan Rakyat.
However, he admitted to the lower house that as of Aug 15, the government was “still struggling to lift nearly 114,000 hardcore poor families out of poverty”.
Economy minister Rafizi Ramli previously said Padu would enhance the government’s ability to accurately gauge the socioeconomic status of the population and mitigate disparities linked to disposable income.
Registration for Padu, which the government hopes will be the most comprehensive database in the country, will run until March 31.