KUALA LUMPUR: The new-generation MyKad may possibly be used to identify eligible purchasers of subsidised 1kg cooking oil at the retail level, says Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh.
The Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said the ministry was proposing this, as the new-generation MyKad is set to have QR codes for verification and enforcement purposes, among others.
“The chip in the new MyKad must be able to identify eligible buyers.
“Continuous engagements are being carried out with the relevant authorities on the matter, including the National Registration Department as well as traders.
“We are working on this,” she said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 7).
According to Fuziah, a special device is required to read the MyKad for this purpose, noting that the current devices used are solely for Sumbangan Asas Rahmah and Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah recipients.
She was responding to a supplementary question by Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) who suggested that the MyKad be used as a mechanism to purchase subsidised 1kg cooking oil.
He also asked about the ministry’s measures to assist the elderly or less-skilled workers to purchase the subsidised 1kg cooking oil, especially if they do not have phones to use the mobile eCOSS application.
To this, Fuziah said the manual purchase method, where purchases are written down in log books at retail stores, is still applicable but can pose challenges.
“However, I have insisted that we do get this data as well, so we can really identify who are using these methods,” she said.
The Deputy Minister explained that the mobile eCOSS application is used to determine the availability of subsidised cooking oil in the market and ensure that foreign nationals are unable to purchase it.
As of July 3, she said 5.26 million Malaysians have registered and used the application.
