Alcohol without standard, imitations among causes of poisoning

IPOH (Sept 24): Processing alcohol without quality control and consuming imitation alcohols are among the causes of methanol poisoning in the Klang Valley and Perak, Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye (pictured) said.

He said the ministry's findings showed that the contents of methanol as a result of processing of alcohol without quality control and in imitation alcohols were high.

"High methanol content in liquors is not suitable as it can harm health and cause death compared to using ethanol (alcohol compound) which is allowed in alcohol.

"Consumers are advised not to buy imitation alcohols which have no approvals from the ministry.

"We also co-operate with various parties such as the police and customs to increase enforcement to curb widespread sale of imitation alcohols," he told reporters after a dinner to collect funds for the Perak Specialist Hospital here yesterday.

The latest number of deaths from toxic alcohol poisoning nationwide remained at 36 as of 10 pm tonight, with 24 cases in Selangor, nine in Kuala Lumpur and three in Perak.