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Malaysia will prohibit foreigners from purchasing subsidized packaged cooking oil beginning March 1, as the government aims to prevent the misappropriation and abuse of crucial food subsidies.

Minister for Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Armizan Mohd Ali, stated that rules banning non-citizens from buying subsidized cooking oil will be published under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, with implementation starting on March 1,The Straits Times reported.

During a question session in Dewan Rakyat on January 29, Armizan mentioned that the initiative would be implemented via the Cooking Oil Price Stabilization Scheme, known as eCOSS, a digital system that monitors transactions throughout the entire supply chain.

He mentioned that the system enables officials to track purchases as they happen, aiding in the prevention of the diversion and smuggling of subsidized cooking oil, an issue that has persistently affected the subsidy program, according toThe Star.

The ministry is working on improving eCOSS via its mobile app and other methods, with intentions to connect the system with the MyKasih platform. This will enable qualified users to carry out transactions using Malaysia’s national identity card, or MyKad, much like the current Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiative.

Armizan mentioned that QR codes found in the latest versions of the MyKad can also serve to confirm the purchase of subsidized cooking oil.

The eCOSS mobile app was introduced in stages beginning in May 2025, initially in Putrajaya, then at Rahmah Madani retail outlets, followed by Johor state and specific locations in other states. In the trial period, manual buying and record-keeping of transactions were still permitted.

To prevent any households from being overlooked, Armizan mentioned that retailers have been directed to support elderly individuals and those with low income who do not possess smartphones or have limited internet connectivity.