KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA 17 Feb 2025 – The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) stated that the government has not yet planned to convert the cooking oil packet subsidy into cash payments through MyKad for the public at this time.
According to Deputy Minister Dr. Fuziah Salleh, the ministry is currently strengthening the Cooking Oil Price Stabilization Scheme System (ECOSS) to ensure that the supply of cooking oil reaches Malaysian citizens.
“As of now, there are no plans to use MyKad or directly channel the subsidy to consumers.
However, to ensure it reaches users, we will implement a pilot project in 2025. Later, we will use personal identification (ID) or a form of ID to identify citizens eligible to access the supply,” she said.
She made these remarks while responding to oral questions in the Dewan Rakyat.
Fuziah was addressing an additional question from Datuk Dr. Zulkafperi Hanapi (Independent-Tanjong Karang) regarding whether KPDN would consider converting the cooking oil packet subsidy into cash payments via MyKad, following issues of subsidies not reaching the target group due to leakages and abuse of power.
Meanwhile, Fuziah, who is also the Kuantan MP, said KPDN is still in discussions to secure cooperation from several agencies to carry out the pilot project.
She added that KPDN is firm in combating misuse by taking action, such as suspending and revoking the cooking oil quotas of offending parties.
“In 2024, we suspended 16 companies and revoked quotas from 30 companies that abused the trust given to them.
This is a serious action, and we have no compromise,” she said.
Fuziah also stated that KPDN believes the current quota of 60,000 metric tonnes of subsidized cooking oil packets in the retail market is sufficient.
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