KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Every truckload of palm oil fresh fruit bunches begins its journey at the weighbridge. For decades, this stage has been prone to disputes, errors and even manipulation.
Now, Malaysia is leading the way with a fully certified digital weighbridge system developed by FGV Prodata Systems, the IT subsidiary of FGV Holdings Berhad, designed to ensure every kilogram is measured precisely and transparently.
Known as ProWeigher, the system has been deployed across FGV’s 66 mills nationwide and has achieved full certification under Malaysia’s Akta Timbang dan Sukat 1972 (Weights and Measures Act 1972).
Developed in partnership with the National Metrology Institute of Malaysia (NMIM) and SIRIM, it is recognised as legal-for-trade, meaning its data carries legal weight in commercial transactions.
“ProWeigher is not just a weighbridge anymore — it’s a compliance tool,” said FGV Prodata’s head of digital strategy and planning Muhammad Yazid Masol.
“Every transaction is encrypted and auditable. That protects the mill, it protects the smallholder, and it satisfies regulators.”
The system integrates advanced safeguards to prevent tampering. Trucks are logged automatically using QR codes and number-plate recognition, while biometric logins and TAC authorisation codes ensure only authorised staff can operate the system.
Each reading is digitally encrypted, generating a secure checksum stored in a legally relevant database.
This means fruit bunches and palm kernel deliveries cannot be under-reported or manipulated once weighed — a major shift in an industry where trust at the weighbridge has often been contested.
The weighbridge is also directly integrated into the FGV Traceability of Product (FGVTOP) platform, which tracks palm oil from plantation polygons through to export consignments.
By anchoring compliance at the very first point of entry, the weighbridge ensures that the data flowing through the entire chain of custody is accurate and tamper-proof.
This is especially significant for Europe, where the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will soon require all palm oil to be proven deforestation-free and legally sourced.
“Europe wants to see that the system is credible and certified. That’s why we worked with NMIM and SIRIM to make sure our weighbridge meets international standards.
“Our Group CEO often reminds us that FGV must always move with speed and resilience. Speed, to ensure we comply quickly with every project related to global regulations, and resilience, because this industry demands a strong framework to withstand challenges. Those aspirations guide us at Prodata in everything we build,” said Muhammad Yazid.
FGV Prodata was incorporated in 1986 as the digital and IT solutions arm of FGV Holdings, one of the world’s largest palm oil producers and Malaysia’s most diversified agro-based groups. Initially set up to provide ICT support to FELDA and FGV’s companies, it has since grown into a leading systems integrator.
Today, it services not only the plantation sector but also government agencies, government-linked companies, financial institutions and the education industry.
With more than 39 years of experience, FGV Prodata has built a reputation for delivering enterprise solutions that combine hardware, software and digital platforms tailored to client needs.
The company will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, marking four decades of technological support and innovation. It now positions itself as a driver of digital agriculture, automation and compliance systems.
Its flagship solutions — including the FGVTOP traceability platform and the ProWeigher weighbridge system — reflect this evolution from internal service provider to regional technology exporter.
“We are no longer just supporting FGV internally. We are building solutions that can help Malaysia’s entire palm oil sector, and even other commodities, meet the highest compliance standards. This is how we show leadership in Asean and beyond,” Muhammad Yazid said.
The technology has already drawn regional attention. Through a SIRIM–Asean programme backed by Germany’s PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), FGV Prodata presented its weighbridge system to Vietnam’s National Metrology Institute as a model for digital compliance.
“Vietnam wanted to learn from Malaysia instead of just copying the German framework,” Muhammad Yazid said.
“We showed them that our weighbridge system is already certified, already proven and ready to scale.”
Beyond palm oil, the ProWeigher system can be applied to rice, coal and other bulk commodities, opening new markets for Malaysian-developed compliance technology.
For smallholders, the benefits are immediate: transparent weights mean fairer payments and fewer disputes. For mills and traders, it reduces fraud risk, while for European buyers, it provides an auditable trail of data that aligns with the highest regulatory standards.
“At the end of the day, it’s about trust,” Muhammad Yazid said.
“If Europe can see that every kilogram is properly recorded and Asean neighbours are learning from our model, then Malaysia is setting the benchmark.”
