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. 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. Streamline access: Armizan (pic, below) says eCOSS will be integrated with the MyKasih platform, allowing purchases of subsidised packaged cooking oil via MyKad, similar to the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah programme. The system tracks purchases and transactions to curb long-­standing leakages caused by diversion and smuggling of subsidised cooking oil. He said the QR code embedded in the newer MyKad could also serve as a verification mechanism for subsidised cooking oil purchases.

Source: The Star January 30, 2026 14:31 UTC