Prioritise Padu data security, says Wan Ahmad Fayhsal

PETALING JAYA: The national Central Database Hub (Padu) should prioritise data security to protect personal information from being abused, says Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

He said that this is the first time in the nation's history where data was being collected by the government on such a large scale and added that the necessary security or encryption systems are still unknown.

"Has the system been fully tested and proven that it cannot be breached easily? Or will we see our data sold soon," said the Bersatu youth chief.

Wan Ahmad said that the government should also prioritise passing laws on data protection and sharing an Omnibus Law as what was proposed previously by several parties.

He suggested a Parliament Special Select Committee should investigate current weakness in the system to ensure data security of the people is guaranteed.

Padu, which was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday (Jan 2) is a government database containing detailed individual and household profiles of all citizens in the country.

One of its primary goals is to help the government deliver targeted assistance, with accumulated federal subsidies for petrol reaching hundreds of billions, with more than half used by high or upper middle-income earners.