SHAH ALAM, Mar 9 — The Central Database Hub (PADU) now contains 30.7 million profiles of citizens and permanent residents, said Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah.
He said the centralised repository integrates 670 datasets from 204 government agencies, providing a secure, near real-time database to support data driven policymaking and government service delivery.
“For PADU, as I mentioned earlier, 670 datasets have been consolidated, and we are also studying how to expand PADU services, whether through specific use cases or data asset services,” he said at the Dewan Negara today.
PADU was officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in January 2024 to integrate household information across multiple agencies. The system aims to ensure that aid initiatives are distributed more accurately to those who genuinely qualify.
On the People’s Income Initiative (IPR), which empowers low-income households to earn additional sustainable income, Shahar said as of December last year, 6,988 households have joined, with 40 per cent earning more than RM2,000 per month.
He said 47 IPR Intan projects involving nearly 1,700 participants have generated RM22 million in cumulative sales, with an average additional income of RM1,850 per month.
“The challenge under IPR is ensuring participants become self-reliant after a certain period,” he said.
He added that the ministry is providing training, financial literacy, and bookkeeping skills to help participants manage their income effectively.
Shahar was responding to Senator Datuk Kwoh Nai Kwong, who sought an update on PADU, IPR, and KL20, an initiative aimed at transforming Kuala Lumpur into a top 20 global startup hub by 2030.
On the KL20 startup ecosystem initiative, Shahar said Kuala Lumpur currently ranks 18th out of 25 in the Emerging Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2024–2025 by Startup Genome.
To strengthen the city’s position, he said 5,005 startups have been registered via MyStartup’s Single Window, benefiting more than 54,000 recipients so far.
He also announced that the KL20 Summit 2026 will be held in June at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, aiming to attract more venture capital and further support innovation-driven growth.
“These initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to data-based policies, inclusive growth, and a competitive national economy,” he said.
