The recent news circulating on the LowyatNet forum regarding the alleged hacking of "PADU" by the #R00TK1T hacker group has been clarified by the Minister of Economic Affairs, Rafizi Ramli. In a post on social media platform X, Rafizi emphasized that the reported incident pertains to a specific unit under the National Population and Family Development Agency (LPPKN) and not the government's main database, both of which share the acronym "PADU."

Thanks @LowyatNET for NOT FACT CHECKING first that PADU is a sub-unit of LPPKN, not @paduofficial_ Pangkalan Data Utama.

The least you could do is to DM @paduofficial_ to confirm before happily spreading misinformation. https://t.co/xjPBvxxY1y

— Rafizi Ramli (@rafiziramli) February 19, 2024

Rafizi criticized LowyatNet for disseminating unverified information without fact-checking, stating that the mentioned "PADU" is a subsidiary unit under the LPPKN and not the primary government database. He urged media outlets to verify information with the official account of @paduofficial (the main database) before spreading misleading messages.

In his post, Rafizi shared a screenshot of a LowyatNet article with the headline " #R00TK1T Claims to Have Stolen 27GB of Data from LPPKN's PADU." He highlighted the need for responsible reporting, pointing out that, according to the organizational structure of the National Population and Family Development Agency, the entity referred to as "PADU" is a unit managing and delivering services (Unit Pengurusan Dan Penyampaian Perkhidatan) and not the core government database.

As of 19th February at 9:50 PM, LowyatNet has issued a correction to their article, explicitly stating that the hacked "PADU" is a subsidiary unit under the National Population and Family Development Agency, as confirmed by Rafizi Ramli.