The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) is set to tighten controls over the sale of subsidised RON95 petrol.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh revealed that the ministry is developing a digital monitoring system designed to prevent leakages of subsidised goods, including cooking oil, sugar, and petrol—particularly when foreign nationals attempt to purchase them. The system is currently being tested ahead of a nationwide rollout.
Dr Fuziah explained that while each subsidised item presents unique challenges, experience with cooking oil sales has highlighted the problem, as locals often struggle to access these goods due to foreign purchases. To tackle this, KPDN introduced the Cooking Oil Price Stabilization Scheme System (eCOSS), which tracks the entire supply chain from wholesalers and retailers to consumers.
Under eCOSS, customers purchasing subsidised 1kg packets of cooking oil at retail outlets must scan a QR code linked to their MyKad account. This verifies citizenship eligibility and records the transaction in the system before the purchase can proceed.
Dr Fuziah said the same mechanism will soon apply to RON95 petrol. At fuel stations, Malaysians will be required to verify their MyKad before being allowed to buy subsidised fuel.
She emphasised that the initiative aims to ensure subsidies are reserved for citizens, preventing diversion to non-citizens, with tailored strategies implemented for each type of controlled product.
