SIBU: The government is urged to monitor the sale of cheap liquor in rural areas to ensure it is legally produced while restricting it from being sold openly in these places.
Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira said stringent action must be taken if such cheap liquor is produced without valid licence.
“Therefore, I appeal to rural folks to avoid taking cheap liquor and I also appeal to government and relevant authorities to monitor strictly the sale of cheap liquor in rural areas to make sure they are produced legally.
“The government must review and limit the issuing of licences to produce cheap liquor to prevent it from being sold openly in rural areas,” he emphasised.
Concerned about rural folk’s wellbeing, Gira also advised them to steer clear of cheap liquor.
“Many cheap liquors of various brands are being sold especially in rural (areas) mainly in Dayak areas. It cost between RM10 to RM50 per bottle.
“I am not sure whether these liquors are produced with valid licence obtained from the government. Consuming cheap liquor is very bad for health and (bring about) social problem,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the death toll from the toxic alcohol poisoning in Selangor had climbed to 24 as at 9am on Saturday.
Selangor police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor was reported to have said the latest deaths involved two Nepalese men aged 29 and 30.
He also said 18 people were still receiving treatment in hospitals while 16 others had been discharged.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had ordered alcoholic drink products that were not in line with regulations as stipulated by the Health Ministry to be withdrawn from the market.
Dr Noor advised the public to only buy alcoholic drinks with approved labelling from the Health Ministry and avoid consuming fake ones that might contain methanol.