KUCHING: The Sarawak government has voiced its reservation on the federal government's Central Database Hub system.
The state's Minister For Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah, said this today.
He was responding to reporters' question on what was discussed in the state cabinet meeting yesterday on the federal government's initiative to collect personal information to address incomplete data.
He said the state government was against Sarawakians disclosing too many personal details about themselves.
He also said Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department, Sharifah Hasidah Syed Aman Ghazali, who oversees state-federal relations for the state cabinet, had been directed to convey the state's request for "some modifications (to be made in the form to be filled) more suited to the needs of Sarawak".
Karim said the state cabinet had agreed that "there must be a slight change (in the information requested) specifically for Sarawak".
He said the request for the tweak does not mean the state was not supportive of the initiative better known by its Malay acronym Padu and rolled out by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in January.
"If it is with good intention then, of course, we are supportive. But if they (Putrajaya) have some ulterior motive in Padu, then we will not be happy."
Padu aims to consolidate all data collected "for informed decision-making in policies, like targeted subsidies and social protection.
Speaking from his personal view, Karim admitted that he was very much against Padu.
He said the questions in the form all Malaysians were required to fill when registering themselves was akin to "stripping yourself naked".
"Many people may not realise it. Practically the moment you fill up (the form), you would have stripped yourself bare.
"That is the problem with Padu. You have to give them (the government) everything.
"Practically everything on yourself (personal information), your bank account, the number of houses you have, everything… you bare them all.
"Would you do that? I don't think that is the proper way to treat your citizens."
He said Malaysians must have certain privacy in their lives.
"But in Padu, you are giving away all the details of your life. Do you want that?
Surely you want to have some privacy. By giving them all such information, you will not be protected anymore."
Karim also questioned if the federal government was "going to use the data collected to let the Inland Revenue Department go after you".
He said if Padu was meant to help the poor, as claimed by the Economy Ministry, then "let the poor and those in need of government assistance fill in the forms".
"You don't go across the board (and get) everybody to register. People like me don't need assistance.
"Why do we have to (register)?"
He also questioned the need for Padu when information collected by federal agencies to identify the country's poor and those in need of government assistance had been done before through the E-Kasih programme.
"So why the need for Padu? It's more or less the same.
"Why does (the federal government) want to keep on making changes every two or three years?
Karim said he believed the Padu programme has an ulterior motive.
"You need to be in politics to know it. The data (collected) could be used for political purposes, like during elections.
"That's how I feel personally. Is it really because you want to help the poor or is it because you want to know how many people are there in this kampung and that kampung?"
Meanwhile, an "official memorandum" from the Resident of the Sri Aman Division, instructing all its four District Officers and one administrative officer in a sub-district in the division to stop registering people for Padu has gone viral in social media.
The memorandum also instructed the DOs to inform village and community heads within their purview to do likewise.
