Teach society to think ‘more logically’, urges Azalina as Timah issue blows up in Dewan

KUALA LUMPUR – The government should find ways to better educate the public to think more logically amid the controversy surrounding the whiskey brand Timah, said Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

In the Dewan Rakyat today, the Pengerang MP suggested that, instead of interfering in the issue, the government could aid society in addressing a certain mindset when it comes to the consumption of food and beverages.

“From (when I was) little, I have always eaten A&W’s hot dogs and coney dogs. My child loves eating hot dogs. Don’t tell me I can’t eat them because they are anjing panas (hot dogs).

“So, I think this is important that we need to teach our society to think in a more logical manner,” she said.

The former deputy speaker said this while chiming in on Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Rosol Wahid’s winding-up speech on the Trade Descriptions (Amendment) Bill 2021.

Rosol had said society must be elevated to a more mature, prudent and responsible society, noting that certain parties would take advantage of the situation for their personal gain.

Rosol said that there is indeed a need to produce a more mature society so as not to take advantage of any issue for the benefit and profit of certain parties.

“We don’t want it (misrepresentation of name) to set a precedent,” he said.

“In the future (perhaps), there will also be an issue related to root beer. There will be no end,” he said.

Rosol also said Timah whiskey did not face any public or government opposition when it was registered years ago, but only came into the spotlight after certain parties politicised the issue.

He added that the whiskey brand was registered for trademark with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO), following which its application was displayed in the public sphere for two months.

However, Rosol stopped short of mentioning any names purporting to the parties he said were involved in politicising the matter.

Timah recently courted controversy after several PAS leaders slammed the naming of the liquor, saying it is confusing to Muslims as it bears the short form of the Malay name Fatimah, which is also the name of Prophet Muhammad’s daughter.

The whiskey maker has clarified that Timah actually means “tin”, which harkens to the tin-mining era during British colonial times.

Earlier today, the ministry issued a statement saying the producer of Timah, Winepak Corporation Sdn Bhd, has agreed to discuss renaming its drink, following a meeting held yesterday.

In the Dewan Rakyat today, Rosol said this development is good news for all parties involved and shows the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia being adopted, including by the whiskey maker.

However, several MPs from both sides of the divide were quick to slam the government for interfering in the matter. – The Vibes, October 28, 2021