KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has requested the Federal Government to defer registration in the Central Database Hub (Padu) and reassess the system.
Jeffrey said he is deeply concerned by the federal government's recent push for a comprehensive registration in the Padu system. He said this is especially so when data privacy is more important than ever.
"I am also uncomfortable with Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli's remarks on this issue, which seems too assertive, verging on coercive.
"It must be noted that the four-month window for the registration of approximately 20 million targeted Malaysians in the Padu system is quite alarming and at the same time, puzzling.
"What is the reason behind this rush? Would it not open the system to potential repercussions on data accuracy and security?
"How prepared is the government to ensure that the data will be managed and protected securely with the influx of personal data coming into the system in such a short time?" he said in a statement.
The Sabah Parti Solidarity Tanah Airku (Star) president also said the fact that over 65 per cent of Malaysians have yet to register, shows that there is a profound issue of trust.
The Keningau member of parliament also said the country has been ranked as the eighth "most breached nation" in relation to cybercrime, and Padu is the last thing that the government needs to introduce.
"I concur with Sarawak Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah that there is no difference between Padu and existing systems like e-Kasih or Skim Tunai Rahmah.
"I do not see the necessity of Padu or how it justifies the extensive collection of personal data beyond what is traditionally required by agencies, such as the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) or welfare systems.
"The government's duty is to serve its citizens, not to delve unnecessarily into their private lives.
"The protection of individual privacy must be balanced against the benefits of data collection."