The government is mulling the introduction of special identification cards for those really deserving of purchasing subsidised cooking oil.

Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh said this is necessary because currently, under the open market system, even the well-to-do are buying subsidised products.

"Currently, cooking oil in packets is in the open market. We want to target them for the needy so that the undeserved do not buy them.

"The government manufactures 60 million packets of subsidised cooking oil monthly, but the complaint I hear is that it (the oil) is always not available as the stock runs out," Fuziah wrote on Facebook.

A special identification for those worthy of subsidies would prevent this problem, she added.

"With targeted subsidy, only those with the identification, and verified worthy (of subsidies) can purchase the oil packets.

"Many ask why not use MyKads or MySejahtera. This is because the needs of a family are not the same as the needs of a micro trader.

"If we set the purchase limit to 3kg or 5kg, the traders will face issues. Another thing, the T20 group does not qualify to purchase subsidised cooking oil. Thus, the need for a different identification document," said Fuziah.

Replying further to her followers’ comments, the minister said the different identification could also help prevent the issue of foreigners purchasing subsidised products.

In Parliament last month, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the government was working on building a mega database profiling 10 million households, which would be used to target subsidies.

The database - Pengkalan Data Utama (Padu) - will be ready in January 2024 and will be used to determine who qualifies for subsidies.

"This also means the beginning of the targeted subsidy programme," he told Parliament.

It is unclear how Fuziah's proposal for a card to identify those who qualify for cooking oil subsidy sits within this plan.