Fair share: A consumer using the eCOSS app to buy cooking oil packets at a supermarket in Subang Jaya, Selangor. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: More than 2.2 million people have signed up for the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme System (eCOSS) app which allows Malaysians to buy the 1kg subsidised packet cooking oil.
The eCOSS app, developed by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, is still in its pilot stage, but once it is officially launched, only eligible Malaysians will be able to buy three packets of 1kg polybags of oil in a single transaction.
Minister Datuk Seri Armizan Mohd Ali said that the momentum has far exceeded the targeted one million registrations, with about 25,000 users signing up every day.
The first eCOSS trial was conducted during the Madani Rahmah Sales at Dewan Muafakat Kampung Bakar Batu in Johor Baru last July and has since been extended nationwide in phases, with Selangor adopting it last December.
The eCOSS system records all sales of the subsidised cooking oil from manufacturers and packers, to wholesalers and retail level transactions.
“The pilot rollout has shown incredible momentum since its start in Putrajaya in May 2025 and its expansion to Johor in July 2025.
“As of Jan 26, we have recorded 2,270,208 registered users, exceeding the one million users targeted initially.
“We are also seeing high daily engagement, with registrations increasing by up to 25,000 users per day.
“This high adoption rate, supported by over 5,000 participating retailers and supermarkets, ensures that subsidised oil is readily available and monitored effectively across the market.
“Yesterday alone, almost 359,000 packets of subsidised cooking oil were bought using the mobile application.
“The primary goal of the current pilot phase of the eCOSS mobile application is to modernise the management and distribution of 1kg subsidised cooking oil to ensure it reaches the intended groups, specifically Malaysian citizens and the B40 community.”
Armizan further explained that the eCOSS app verified users’ identities through an e-KYC (Know Your Customer) process using MyKad, ensuring access to only eligible Malaysians.
There have been leakages and hoarding of cooking oil, especially subsidised cooking oil in packets, due to the absence of a system to track sales.
There were also many cases of smuggling, misuse by businesses and fraudulent repackaging.
Between Jan 1, 2024, to Oct 31, 2025, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry reported that a total of 861 cases related to the misappropriation of subsidised cooking oil were acted upon, with total seizures valued at RM4,231,062.10.
“Through this app, we can record real-time sales and significantly reduce incidents of leakages and misappropriation.
“We are also discussing with the Finance Ministry about integrating this system with the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) framework.”
A check on social media showed that consumers mostly praised the efficiency of the app, stating that since its introduction, 1kg polybags were easily available at retailers, unlike before.
One user, Reliani Koto, said that eCOSS has stopped the practice of hoarding.
“Without eCOSS, some people would hoard one box of the poly bags for themselves, denying others,” said Reliani, who, along with another user, remarked that the app tends to lag on older mobile phone versions.
“Why can’t we just scan our MyKads like e-Kasih? What happens when there is no connectivity?” asked the user.
