Quick stop: The NRD set up a booth in the Parliament building to assist MPs in solving citizenship issue. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
THE low number of registrations with the Central Database Hub (Padu) among non-Malays is because they are under the impression they are not eligible for any aid, rather than because they lack trust in the government, says Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli.
He said the low registration rate among non-Malays was because many of them are not in government systems as they had never received aid from the government before.
“This is why they (non-Malays) are not extensively found in government systems,” he told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Rafizi also said many of them fall within the M40 and above income groups.
“Hence, they are not eligible for any aid. That is the reason for their lack of participation, not because of a trust deficit,” he added.
The minister was responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN- Pasir Mas) on why non-Malays appeared hesitant to register with Padu.
He also asked whether this was due to a trust deficit.
Fadhli had cited the minister’s recent statement indicating that non-Malays were among those with the highest rates of not registering with Padu.
Rafizi urged non-Malays who are in need to apply for assistance, adding that now, there is an opportunity for everyone to be included in all government aid programmes.
“What we are concerned most is those eligible for government aid being left out.
“That is why we are trying to convince the non-Malay population that some of them are at risk of losing out (if they do not register),” he said.
