Face to face: Bukit Kepayang assemblyman Nicole Tan’s service centre members helping the public with queries and registration for Padu at the Taman Bukit Galena night market in Seremban. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the convenience of registering online, senior citizens still prefer learning about and getting on the Central Database Hub (Padu) from another human being.
Interviews with several elderly folk in Felda settlements, rural areas and towns outside the Klang valley found that they preferred to get help from a more tech-savvy person in order to register with Padu.
Jalilah Amin, 60, of Felda Krau 1 said although she learned about the system through the media, she still had no idea if she would benefit from registering on it.
“Only during physical meetings do we become aware that we need to register online. Usually, my children will help me with things like this,” she told Bernama.
“So far, they have not asked (whether we have registered or not)... perhaps because it is still new,” said the mother of five, whose settlement is in Raub, Pahang.
Jalilah, who lives in the Felda settlement with her husband and their youngest child, added that it would have been easier to learn about Padu through physical reading materials such as pamphlets.
As for Wong Cheng Huat from Kuantan, the 71-year-old learned about Padu when his neighbour asked whether he had registered or not.
“I am a recipient of the Rahmah Cash Aid scheme and I am worried that if I do not register, I may miss out on other assistance in the future. It’s good that he was willing to ask... my neighbour is younger and more alert about matters like this.
“I agreed to register because I was satisfied with his explanation and together we completed the registration process in less than 10 minutes,” he said.
Launched on Jan 2, Padu is the government’s central hub for data on it citizens which is aimed at distributing aid and subsidies efficiently and accurately.
All Malaysian citizens have been urged to register before March 31.
Another Kuantan resident, T. Letchumi, 63, intends to visit the Digital Economy Centre soon to get further clarification about Padu and plans to share this information with colleagues to ensure they register before the deadline.
Focal points like rural community centres to access the Internet also play a crucial role in explaining Padu, especially to the elderly.
According to Nurulazma Shafiqa Khairul Azhar, manager of the Serting Ilir Rural Community Centre in Negeri Sembilan, Padu registration in the area has been encouraging, as many have come to the centre to seek assistance.
“For rural residents, this centre is their reference point for obtaining accurate information, and it is my responsibility to explain it to them. Most elderly residents need help filling out their information online,” Nurulazma said.
