Tuan Ibrahim: Products that can create anxiety no longer allowed

PORT DICKSON: Products that can create anxiety among the people will no longer be allowed, says Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man following the controversy over the name and image of the homegrown Timah whiskey brand.

The PAS deputy president said the Cabinet had made a decision on the matter after a meeting between the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and the National Unity Ministry.

“We called the liquor company to state our objections.

“The Cabinet then decided that it will no longer allow the manufacturing of products that can cause anxiety among the people, which includes the context of race and religion.

“This is the policy after we have objected to it,” Tuan Ibrahim, who is also Environment and Water Minister, said during the 62nd PAS Youth muktamar here that was streamed live on Facebook yesterday.

His latest comments reflected a tougher stand on the issue.

Last week, in an article by the party’s mouthpiece Harakah Daily, he appeared to cool the furore by saying that “Timah” was not a Muslim name nor even a person’s name.

“It’s a type of metal. Furthermore, the logo is a picture of a man. There is no man named Timah,” he was quoted as saying.

He reminded Muslims that liquor was still prohibited in Islam, but the right of non-Muslims to drink it had to be considered as well.

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, in a Facebook post later, maintained that “Timah” in Malay referred to Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah Az-Zahra, adding that this subtly touched on the sensitivity of Muslims.

Others in PAS who had spoken up against the name was PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad.

The manufacturer has explained that the name pays tribute to Malaya’s history in tin mining, and the man pictured on the label is Captain Tristram Speedy, an English officer in Malaya during colonial times.

On Thursday, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said Winepak Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd had agreed to consider changing the name and image of the whiskey after a discussion with the government.