KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat witnessed a “strange” moment today after a PKR lawmaker likened consuming the Timah whiskey to “drinking Malay women”.
Speaking in the lower house, Rusnah Aluai (Tangga Batu-PH) brought up the issue of the contentious alcohol beverage, saying its name is confusing for the Muslim community.
She also questioned the whiskey maker’s decision to use a picture of Captain Speedy in a kopiah — traditionally worn by Muslims — on its label.
#TIMAH CONTROVERSY: Tangga Batu MP Rusnah Aluai (@RusnahAluaiP136) today likened the consumption of Timah whiskey to "drinking Malay women" pic.twitter.com/k48uwvOuS6
— TheVibes.com (@thevibesnews) October 28, 2021
“Don’t they have other photos of Captain Speedy, perhaps in a hat? Also, can’t we rename the drink like The Mines?
“Another point I want to make is that this (name) is not good for women, because Timah can be imagined as a Malay woman. We have Kak Timah, Mak Timah, Mak Cik Timah.
“So, when we consume the whiskey, it’s as though we are drinking Malay women.”
The locally produced Timah whiskey recently shot to fame after winning multiple international awards last year before it was officially launched on October 7.
Since then, various quarters have slammed the whiskey maker over its name, saying it is confusing to the Muslims as it bears the short form of the Malay name “Fatimah”.
Some also chastised the branding as insulting, as it resembles that of Prophet Muhammad’s daughter, Saidatina Fatimah az-Zahrah.
The whiskey maker has clarified that the name Timah actually meant “tin”, which harkens to the tin mining era during British colonial times.
Amanah reps at odds over Timah branding
Earlier, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (Sepang-PH) had questioned how the name Timah was approved for use in Malaysia, and what the government’s justification is for allowing this.
“Does the government feel the branding is not problematic for Muslims?”
Hanipa said while his party, Amanah, has no issues with non-Muslims consuming alcohol, the Timah matter has become heated as it involves the Muslim community.
However, his party colleague Khalid Samad (Shah Alam-PH) took a different stand, saying he saw no issue with the name and found comparisons made to the Prophet’s daughter baffling.
As far as I’m concerned, no religious lectures held in any surau or mosque have referred to Saidatina Fatimah as Timah. No Muslims call her Timah.”
Khalid added that, had this issue surfaced during Pakatan Harapan’s time in federal power, he is certain the then opposition would have politicised the matter into a racial and religious one.
“This Timah issue is not sensitive on its own, but it is being made into one. Just like when we were in power, the issue surrounding the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) was not able to be discussed in a calm manner because all sorts of interpretations were made.
“It is unfortunate that in our country, Muslims live in a siege mentality, where they picture themselves as being under attack by non-Muslims.
“Like this issue of Timah; had it happened during our time, critics would say DAP is trying to attack Muslims and insulting Saidatina Fatimah. Luckily, we are not that kind of opposition. We are responsible, and we don’t use such issues to create tension,” he said. – The Vibes, October 28, 2021
