PETALING JAYA: Nearly a year after the rollout of the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme (eCOSS), consumers say subsidised packet cooking oil has become more readily available.
They said the new mechanism has improved supply and reduced leakages, although some users are still adapting to the digital platform.
Housewife Zakiah Mohamad said the items can now be easily purchased at most sundry shops and mini markets.
Cooking daily for five families while also preparing snacks for surau gatherings, the 65-year-old from Johor often finishes a packet of cooking oil in just a few days.
She started using the app several months ago and found it helpful.
“It seemed difficult at the beginning but sundry shop workers have been guiding me, and it is much easier now,” she said.
Introduced in July 2025, the eCOSS mobile app was designed to track and monitor the distribution of 1kg subsidised cooking oil packets from manufacturers to consumers, with the aim of preventing leakages and misuse.
Under the system, verified consumers are allowed to purchase up to three packets of subsidised cooking oil, each weighing 1kg and costs RM2.50, in a single transaction.
The offer is strictly limited to Malaysian citizens.
K. Murthy, 62, from Kajang, Selangor, said the three-packet limit is sufficient for his household of four.
“Each packet lasts about two weeks if I cook daily. This really benefits B40 families like mine.”
He said the supply of subsidised cooking oil has improved noticeably.
“At supermarkets, I now see three to four full boxes,” he added.
Malaysian Federation of Hawkers and Traders Associations president Datuk Seri Rosli Sulaiman said although eCOSS has improved the supply of subsidised cooking oil in the market, some members are still struggling to familiarise themselves with the system.
He said the three-packet limit is also too restrictive for traders who require larger quantities for business use.
“They have said the system has caused difficulties for both customers and traders, particularly those unfamiliar with technology.”
Rosli suggests greater engagement with traders and consumers to help them better understand the advantages and limitations of the system, and to encourage wider participation.
Yayasan Nishana chairman Nivas Ragavan said the system also poses practical challenges for some users.
He said reliance on mobile devices and unstable internet connectivity can slow transactions, leading to inconvenience during peak business hours.
“We hope that as the system matures, it will contribute to a more efficient and predictable distribution process while ensuring that subsidised goods reach the intended beneficiaries.”
