LETTERS: The attitude and faction that it defends the disputed name of Timah liquor, seems to ignore the sensitivities of the local Muslim community despite being opposed by many activists and reputable NGOs.
Criticism of the alcohol protest from a handful of alcohol-addicted factions using social media and issuing statements to influence public opinion by describing it as a trivial issue.
Then they tried to find liquor brands in other countries that are said to use the name of Muslims to reject the protests in this country against the Timah brand, proudly saying that it is an award-winning local liquor.
We emphasize that the way they compare Malaysia with other countries in terms of liquor brands clearly shows an anti-health pro-alcohol attitude. We insist other countries 'affairs on alcohol are their business.
Malaysia has its own sensitivities. We reject this simplistic argument that tries to poison the public mindset that alcohol should thrive as a popular part of the lives of Malaysians.
The question of the meaning of Timah branded liquor which is said to have nothing to do with the name of Islam cannot be accepted. The name is a Malay name but the common use of the name in Malay society has different connotations.
The name was deliberately used to take the strategy of brewing alcohol with Malay brands. The main strategy of advertising Timah liquor is to tame the Malays to liquor in Malay brand terms.
However, the public's protests were downplayed by accusing the stand of social activists and religious groups who voiced their protests as shallow-minded and fanatical. This pro-alcohol faction seems to want alcohol in the country to be a very popular and prominent industry.
We urge the government to clarify what policies are set for the future of the industry in this country. Do we maintain an industry that produces alcoholics or a pro-health policy for the people?
We stressed that the authorities need to see if the liquor brands produced by these local companies are approved based on the Guidelines to Avoid False and Misleading Advertisements.
In the matter of advertising, the issue of misuse of words or phrases that have negative implications for consumers must be examined and strictly enforced. Rules governing language, labels, brands, words and images in product advertisements that may mislead consumers must be reviewed.
Groups that are fanatical with the alcohol industry need to remember that alcohol is not only a matter of rights to non-Muslims but it is also a matter of social security rights to the general public.
Since alcohol is proven to have negative implications on health, public safety, work productivity, family stability, then alcohol must be controlled in terms of its production, promotion and the approval of a license to sell it.
The freedom fighters to drink alcohol are anti-health and anti-social groups. Is the right to drink alcohol more important than the right to maintain public health?
Not only is the country facing a severe health crisis, the alcohol addicts are demanding the right to add more local liquor brands which will further complicate the existing health crisis.
The promotion of alcohol with various creative strategies is aimed at popularizing the culture of drinking alcohol and triggering habits of dependence and addiction to alcohol. The government cannot allow the liquor industry to intensify the promotion of liquor in the annual October Fest event.
The rate of alcohol consumption in Malaysia is increasing every year. According to Code Blue, almost 50 per cent of Malaysians who drink alcohol binge drink are twice as high as in the UK. Reported 45.8 per cent of Malaysians are heavy drinkers compared to 27 per cent in the UK.
In 2019, 45.8 per cent of high alcohol drinkers were reported by the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) by the Institute for Public Health survey.
Do strong supporters of alcohol in this
country care about statistics like this? We demand the authorities look into the question of the law governing the liquor industry.
The liquor industry needs to be strictly monitored and controlled. We urge local liquor production must be banned. Timah brand liquor licence needs to be revoked.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President of MAPIM
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times
