15 dead, 33 hospitalised after consuming alcoholic drinks

SHAH ALAM: Up to 15 men have died and 33 more have been hospitalised since Monday from suspected poisoning after having consumed alcoholic drinks in several areas in the Klang Valley, according to the police.

Selangor chief police officer Datuk Mazlan Mansor said yesterday the dead men comprised Malaysians as well as foreign nationals.

It is believed that they had consumed two types of whiskey and a type of beer, he said in a statement.

Seven of the men died during treatment at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, four at the Kajang Hospital and four at the Selayang Hospital, he said.

Fifteen of the 33 unwell men had been warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, 15 at the Kajang Hospital and one each at the Selayang Hospital , Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang and Shah Alam Hospital, he added.

“The first victim was a worker of a factory in Sungai Buloh. He died about 7pm yesterday ( Monday). His employer lodged a police report on the death. The latest death was at about 5pm today ( yesterday), which took the death toll to 15,” he said.

Mazlan said the cases had been classified as sudden death pending a full report on the postmortem.

“We have yet to get an official report on the deaths. However, a preliminary investigation found that all the victims had been hospitalised after having consumed alcoholic drinks.

“We are conducting checks at shops,” he said. — Bernama