Consumers without smartphones can use a handwritten logbook for purchasing subsidised cooking oil, according to Johor KPDN.
The Johor Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has implemented the eCOSS pilot programme to distribute subsidised packet cooking oil, with a focus on ensuring smooth operation and inclusivity for all consumers.
Before the programme's implementation, KPDN held engagement sessions with supermarkets to prepare for the eCOSS pilot programme. This initiative aimed to ensure the programme ran smoothly without causing inconvenience to consumers.
The programme, which is now in its second phase, includes 29 point-of-sale (POS) locations in Johor catering to eCOSS. Every transaction involving subsidised packet cooking oil in Johor is now recorded digitally through eCOSS, helping to curb leakages.
However, KPDN recognises the need to cater to consumers who do not own smartphones. As such, they remind supermarkets to inform consumers about the manual registration option available for smoother implementation of the programme. Consumers can register manually using a logbook provided by supermarkets for the purchase of subsidised packet cooking oil.
The eCOSS mobile application was initially implemented in Johor and has now been extended to the end-user level. Under the pilot programme, consumers are required to download the eCOSS mobile application and scan a QR code each time they purchase packet cooking oil. However, the supermarkets participating in the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme System and offering logbook-based registration for buyers without smartphones are supported by KPDN.
Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, the state director of the Johor Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, addressed concerns that the government's eCOSS mobile application might marginalise certain groups. She stated that both the eCOSS application and the manual registration option work well and ensure no marginalisation of certain groups, particularly the elderly and those facing technology limitations.
As of the given date, 111,480 transactions have been recorded through the eCOSS application, and 47,141 transactions were logged manually during the same period. With these measures in place, Johor continues to strive for inclusivity in its digital initiatives, ensuring that all residents can benefit from the subsidised cooking oil programme.
