Toxic alcohol death toll at 36

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of deaths due to a recent alcohol poisoning case was 36 as of 2pm yesterday.

Perak Health, Consumer Affairs, National Integration and Human Resources Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said a local man, who was among two Malaysians, aged 41 and 53, reported in critical condition at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, died on Saturday.

“The other victim is reported (to still be) in critical condition while another victim, aged 35, is expected to be discharged soon,” he said after attending the “Memory Walk 2018” event for dementia awareness.

Sivanesan said no new case has been reported in Perak, with the number still at five.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation has called on the government to introduce mandatory jail sentences against those who sell smuggled or adulterated alcohol.

Its senior vice-chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said existing laws should be amended as alcohol outlets were mushrooming and operating with little monitoring by the authorities.

“I believe the lack of control of alcohol sales has led to the latest methanol poisoning cases since, as has been reported, many shops are still selling cheap, smuggled or adulterated alcohol,” he said in a statement.

Lee said Malaysians should discard their lackadaisical attitude and help the authorities to address problems related to excessive alcohol consumption that cause family problems, falling grades among students, road accidents and fights.

He expressed hope that the relevant authorities, especially the Customs Department, police and local authorities, would conduct more frequent checks on all premises selling alcoholic beverages, as well as track down shops selling illicit liquor.

With assistance from the Health Department and Chemistry Department, he said random samples should be taken and analysed to determine whether the liquor found on the shelves have been adulterated or contained a high level of methanol. – Bernama