Business operators warned against selling fake alcoholic drinks

KOTA KINABALU: Amid the increasing alcohol poisoning death toll in the country, State Health and People's Well Being Minister Stephen Wong has warned all premises that sell alcohol to refrain from selling fake alcoholic drinks.

Business operators that are caught selling fake alcoholic drinks will face serious penalties, Stephen asserted.

“For those business, watch out. If we catch you, we will impose serious penalties. We are not going to compromise if you sell all these types of fake alcoholic beverages because it will endanger the lives of the people,” Stephen told reporters when met at the Kota Kinabalu-level World Pharmacy Day and World No Tobacco Day Celebration at Luyang Health Clinic, yesterday.

He said business operators should not let their greed consume them.

When asked whether there have been any recorded cases of alcohol poisoning in Sabah, Stephen said that there has been none so far.

“So far, so good. Nothing has happened yet so far,” he added.

On Thursday night, the alcohol death toll rose to 40 with Negeri Sembilan becoming the latest state to record a death after Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Perak.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said two more deaths were reported, one in Perak and Selangor respectively.

As of now, the number of deaths from toxic alcohol poisoning in Selangor was 24, Kuala Lumpur (11), Perak (four) and Negeri Sembilan (one).