TO be blunt, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's call for a single, cross-agency social protection database (PDPS) is most likely going to end up as another flawed greater e-Kasih in the making, "'Social protection database vital'" (The Star, June 9). If we are serious about social protection reforms, we must start with low-hanging fruits that can make our society a fairer and more just place to live in. The two key ingredients missing from our social protection system are redistribution (reducing inequalities in income, opportunities and access) and risk-pooling (sharing of risks on the principle of solidarity). What we can do instead is to have a national household registry system that tracks the well-being of our family units over time. It is important to note that any social protection reforms must happen hand in hand with population mindset change.

Source: The Star June 12, 2021 00:11 UTC