GEORGE TOWN – Whiskey maker Timah has been urged to change its branding and the image used on its bottles so as to maintain racial harmony in Malaysia.
Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor called on the government to instruct the company to change its name and look.
In a statement, he expressed disappointment over a Timah ad that has made the rounds on social media.
“As we all know, to the Malay community, ‘Timah’ is an abbreviation of Fatimah, the name of the daughter of Prophet Muhammad, who is highly respected by Muslims.
“Therefore, branding the whiskey as ‘Timah’ is considered by Muslims as an insult that should not have happened.”
He said liquor producers must be aware of Muslim sensitivities so as to not create tensions.
“We do not object to alcohol being consumed by non-Muslims, but we request that the government instruct the company to immediately change its brand and the image on the bottle to a name and image that do not offend the sensitivities of Muslims.
“We also hope that the country’s political leaders, especially those who are Muslim, will protest against the insensitive actions of the whiskey producer.”
The makers of Timah have issued an explanation for the name, but this did not stop Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Idris Ahmad from lodging complaints with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry and Home Ministry.
In an interview with TV AlHijrah on Saturday, he confirmed that reports have been lodged with the two ministries, calling for an investigation.
Timah’s makers said the name is the Malay word for tin, which harks back to the tin-mining era during British colonial times.
“The man on our bottle, Capt Speedy (British explorer Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy), was one of the men who introduced the whiskey culture back then. We do not intend for our name to stir controversy.
“Any interpretation of our name unrelating to Malaysian tin mining is false. Timah is meant to be enjoyed by non-Muslims of the legal age to purchase alcohol.” – The Vibes, October 18, 2021
