She said the government currently uses Padu to validate existing applications and identify new participants for the People’s Income Initiative (IPR) programme.

“The government has utilised Padu data to calculate the basic minimum living expenditure and net disposable income and enhance the formation of socioeconomic policies and programmes, as well as minimise inclusion and exclusion errors.

“This is part of the government’s efforts to optimise the utilisation of resources,” she said in reply to a query from Aminolhuda Hassan (Sri Gading-PH) on Padu’s implementation during a special chamber session of the Dewan Rakyat here today.

Hanifah also said Padu’s implementation has reached the final stage of its second phase, involving the integration of the latest data and analyses to determine target groups.

However, she said reopening the Padu system to enable Malaysians to update their information is still at the planning stage.

In April, economy minister Rafizi Ramli announced that 17.65 million, or 58.7% of the total number of public profiles, including household members aged below 18, have been updated in the Padu system.