KUALA LUMPUR: Regulations barring foreigners from purchasing subsidised packaged cooking oil are expected to take effect on March 1, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
He said the ministry will gazette regulations prohibiting non-citizens from buying subsidised packaged cooking oil through provisions under the Control of Supplies Regulations, drafted pursuant to Section 6 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
“We are currently in discussions with the Attorney General’s Chambers, and enforcement will commence on March 1, 2026,” he said during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Armizan said the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme System (eCOSS), which digitally records data across the entire distribution chain, allows the government to effectively enforce the ban.
He added that the ministry will continue enhancing eCOSS management through its mobile application and other available platforms.
The system tracks purchases and transactions to curb long-standing leakages caused by diversion and smuggling of subsidised cooking oil.
The rollout of the Mobile eCOSS application has been expanded gradually since May 2025.
“It began in Putrajaya, followed by premises under the Rahmah Madani Sales Programme, then Johor in cooperation with the state government, and subsequently selected premises in other states,” he said.
During the pilot phase, manual purchases and manual transaction recording are still allowed.
“Assistance and support at sales premises are provided by retailers through special mechanisms for senior citizens and low-income groups who do not own mobile phones with Internet access,” he said.
Armizan added that eCOSS will be integrated with the MyKasih platform to enable purchases using MyKad, similar to the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah programme.
The ministry is working with the Finance Ministry to implement the initiative.
He said the QR code embedded in the newer MyKad could also serve as a verification mechanism for subsidised cooking oil purchases.
He was responding to a question from Kuala Krai MP Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman on measures to ensure no households are left behind following the implementation of the application.
