PKR MP: Drinking Timah whiskey is like 'drinking Malay women'

KUALA LUMPUR: A lawmaker in the Dewan Rakyat suggested that the manufacturer of a local whiskey called Timah change the beverage name to avoid depicting Malay women in a bad light.

The suggestion raised eyebrows in the House after Rusnah Aluai (PH-Tangga Batu) said drinking the whiskey was akin to "drinking Malay women".

"On the brand name Timah, can't it be called 'The Mines', for example, or whatever.

"It also does not represent a good picture of women as it gives the impression that Timah is a Malay woman such as Kakak Timah, Mak Timah and Mak Cik Timah and whatever.

"It is as though we are drinking Malay women," she said when interjecting debates on Trade Descriptions (Amendment) Act 2021 in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday. (Oct 28).

Earlier, Rusnah said that she said the confusion over the whiskey brand also extended to the illustration used by the manufacturer.

"I want to say that it is truly confusing as the brand includes a photograph of Capt Speedy wearing a kopiah (skullcap).

"Isn't there any other photograph of Capt Speedy in different hats that they can use?" she added.

On Oct 16, the whiskey manufacturer explained on its Facebook page that the name pays tribute to Malaya's long history in tin mining, and the man pictured on the label is Captain Tristram Speedy (1836 – 1911), an English officer in Malaya during the British colonial era.

Several quarters from the Muslim community had voiced opposition against the use of the name for the alcoholic beverage, including lodging police reports.

Last Friday (Oct 22), deputy PAS president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man emphasised that “Timah” is not a Muslim name, nor even a person’s name.

Earlier, Khalid Samad (PH-Shah Alam) said that the issue over the whiskey was played up by certain quarters for their own political agenda.