KUALA LUMPUR: The Mobile eCOSS (Cooking Oil Stabilisation Scheme) Application will be able to provide data on the demand of cooking oil to curb smuggling and subsidy leakages, says Datuk Seri Armizan Ali (pic).
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said the data will also help in deciding government policy in ensuring the delivery of cooking oil subsidy.
“We didn’t have the exact updated data on the usage of cooking oil, but with eCOSS, we will have the purchase data.
“From here, than we can draft the way forward policy to target cooking oil subsidies to those who are eligible,” he said when wrapping up his ministerial replies when debating the Auditor-General’s Report in Dewan Rakyat, a first in Parliament.
Armizan also said that his ministry has initiated a pilot project on the app in Johor in May.
He added that the mobile app would also allow the government to monitor sales of cooking oil to foreigners.
“The application will be rolled out gradually, ensuring system stability before full implementation.
“Through the Mobile eCOSS App, retail purchase data will be recorded, allowing the ministry to monitor retailer sales records and consumer purchase data, including identities based on National Registration Department records.
“This strategy enables monitoring and enforcement against sales and purchases exceeding limits or to foreigners,” he added.
The latest A-G report found that the current policy on subsidised cooking oil is not comprehensive and has allowed non-targeted groups, including non-citizens, to benefit from the subsidy.
The department said the existing framework under COSS lacked clear eligibility requirements for the purchase of subsidised cooking oil, with the Auditor-General recommending that the ministry improve its COSS guidelines to tackle leakages.
