Short by Grams, Long on Damage: When 20g Becomes Tonnes

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When KPDN Sarawak seized over 12 tonnes of underweight packet cooking oil in Sejingkat, the headline sounded dramatic — but the real story sits in the details most people ignore.

Each packet was labelled 1kg.
Each packet averaged 0.9791kg.

That’s a shortage of 20.9 grams per packet.

At first glance, that sounds trivial. It isn’t.

The Per-Packet Reality

  • Declared weight: 1.000 kg
  • Actual average: 0.9791 kg
  • Shortage: 20.9 g (~2.1%)

This amount is small enough that:

  • consumers can’t feel it,
  • retailers won’t notice it,
  • complaints are unlikely.

That’s exactly why this method works.

What Was Found in Sejingkat

Based on inspection figures:

  • Actual oil seized: ~12,410 kg
  • Estimated packets involved: ~12,600+
  • Total oil missing: ~265 kg

That means consumers paid for 265 kg of oil that never existed.

What Did Consumers Lose?

Using a conservative town price of RM2.50 per 1kg packet:

  • Direct consumer loss: ~RM660+

This figure looks small only because it reflects what was caught, not what was sold before enforcement arrived.

Now the Ugly Part: “What If This Ran for 1 Year?”

Let’s stay conservative — no drama, no exaggeration.

Assumptions

  • Only 2 premises
  • Only 1,000 packets sold per day (very modest)
  • Same shortage: 20.9g per packet
  • 300 operating days per year
1,000 packets × 0.0209 kg × 300 days = 6,270 kg per year

👉 6.27 tonnes of cooking oil missing per year

From just two premises.

Annual Loss Breakdown

To Consumers

At RM2.50 per kg:

6,270 kg × RM2.50 ≈ RM15,675

That’s money quietly taken from households, mostly low-income families who rely on packet oil.

To the State

Packet cooking oil is subsidised.

That means:

  • the government pays subsidy for 1kg,
  • consumers receive less than 1kg,
  • subsidy is effectively paid on oil that never reaches the public.

This creates:

  • subsidy leakage,
  • distorted consumption data,
  • higher long-term subsidy pressure.

And none of this shows up until enforcement intervenes.

Why This Likely Went On for Years

This kind of short-weighting rarely starts suddenly.

  • The shortage was consistent, not random.
  • Consumers have no way to verify 20g differences.
  • Enforcement inspections are periodic, not constant.

In real-world terms:
If it works today, it probably worked yesterday too.

Why This Matters Beyond One Case

This wasn’t about one bad packet.

It was about:

  • systematic under-delivery,
  • quiet consumer loss,
  • subsidy abuse that compounds over time.

Multiply this behaviour across:

  • more operators,
  • more districts,
  • more years,

and the numbers stop being “small”.

Final Thought

Cheating by grams is not minor dishonesty.
It’s designed to survive unnoticed.

And that’s exactly why it deserves attention.

To help you take action on issues like the underweight cooking oil in Sejingkat, here are the official ways to report such discrepancies to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in Sarawak.

How to Lodge a Report

The fastest way to report “cheating” on weights or prices is via WhatsApp or the mobile app. You should provide a photo of the receipt and the product if possible.

  • WhatsApp (Easiest): Send a message to 019-848 8000.
  • Toll-Free Hotline: Call 1-800-886-800.
  • e-Aduan Portal: Visit eaduan.kpdn.gov.my.
  • Mobile App: Download the Ez ADU KPDN app (available on iOS and Android). It allows you to pin the GPS location of the shop and upload photos directly.
  • Email: e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my

Local KPDN Contacts (Sarawak)

The nearest main enforcement office in the Kuching district is the KPDN Sarawak State Office in Kuching.

  • Sarawak State Office (Kuching): * Phone: 082-537700
    • Address: No. 41-51, Jalan Tun Jugah, 93350 Kuching.

Tips for Reporting Underweight Goods

  1. Keep the Evidence: If you suspect a packet is light, do not open it. Take it back to the shop or keep it as evidence for KPDN.
  2. Photo of Scale: If the shop has a scale, take a photo showing the weight while the packet is on it.
  3. Note the Brand: KPDN specifically targets the “re-packers” (the companies that put the oil into the bags). Knowing the brand name helps them trace the source back to the factory.
  4. Specify “Shortage of Weight”: When filing the report, use the term “Kekurangan Berat” or “Trade Description Order 2023” to ensure it is prioritised as a weights and measures violation.

Reference & Source:

Reported by local Sarawak media and official statements from KPDN Sarawak, regarding enforcement action at premises in Sejingkat involving underweight packet cooking oil.

Disclaimer:
This article is an independent commentary based on publicly available news reports. Any calculations, estimates, or projections are illustrative and hypothetical in nature, intended solely to explain possible implications for consumers and public policy. No claim is made regarding the intent, duration, or extent of any alleged conduct beyond what has been officially reported.

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