Four more succumb as number of dead alcohol poisoning victims increase to 35
Mohd Azam Shah Yaacob and Zahratulhayat Mat Arif
New Straits Times23 September 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of victims dead from the suspected alcohol poisoning incident increased to 35, when four more succumbed today.
The four deaths comprised, two victims in Negri Sembilan, and one respectively in Perak and Selangor since victims of methanol tainted alcohol beverages began emerging since last Monday.
In the Federal capital, a local died while seeking treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. The latest death saw the number of victims in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur increase to six, comprising three locals, two Myanmar nationals and an Indian national.
In SEREMBAN, two Bangladesh nationals succumbed while seeking treatment at the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, while a third is still receiving treatment.
State Health, Environment, Co-operatives and Consumerism chairman, S Veerapan said all the victims initially complained of dizziness and headache as well as poor eye visibility.
The three victims from Senawang showed up with the symptoms after consuming two alcohol beverages at a shop here.
“All the victims in their 40s were taken to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital but two of them died before they could receive treatment,” he told NSTP.
Veerapan said investigations found that the victims had consumed one bottle of alcohol beverage and another bottle partly.
He adds the authorities had probed the shop which sold the beverages to the victims.
“We had obtained the alcohol sample and are conducting further checks. If the level of the alcohol content is found to be higher then that was stipulated, then action would be taken,” he said.
Veerapan also said that authorities would conduct checks at 424 shops statewide which sell alcohol beverages to ensure that retailers adhere to the Food Regulation 1985, specifically section11 (1) (e) on labels and ingredients and 11 (1) (j) involving manufacturer / importer information.
In IPOH, a third person in Perak died from suspected alcohol poisoning.
State Health Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said the man, who has being treated at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) since Wednesday, died yesterday morning.
“This brings to three the number of deaths from suspected alcohol poisoning in the state.
“Another victim is still in critical condition.
“(However) a 35-year-old victim will be discharged today and there were no new admissions as of yesterday,” he said.
Sivanesan said this at press conference after launching Memory Walk 2018: Dementia Awareness, organised by the Dementia Society of Perak, at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreation Park here today.
On Sept 17, a 50-year-old man died of alcohol poisoning at the same hospital; while a 39-year-old man died at a private hospital here the following day.
To date, 35 people in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Negri Sembilan, mostly foreigners, had died from methanol poisoning, while dozens of others have been hospitalised.
Police suspect tainted bootleg liquor is to blame, and identified Grand Royal Whisky, Mandalay Whisky and Kingfisher beer as brands to avoid.
KW: alcohol, poisoning, dead, victims, methanol © New Straits Times Press
Mohd Azam Shah Yaacob and Zahratulhayat Mat Arif
New Straits Times23 September 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of victims dead from the suspected alcohol poisoning incident increased to 35, when four more succumbed today.
The four deaths comprised, two victims in Negri Sembilan, and one respectively in Perak and Selangor since victims of methanol tainted alcohol beverages began emerging since last Monday.
In the Federal capital, a local died while seeking treatment at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. The latest death saw the number of victims in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur increase to six, comprising three locals, two Myanmar nationals and an Indian national.
In SEREMBAN, two Bangladesh nationals succumbed while seeking treatment at the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital, while a third is still receiving treatment.
State Health, Environment, Co-operatives and Consumerism chairman, S Veerapan said all the victims initially complained of dizziness and headache as well as poor eye visibility.
The three victims from Senawang showed up with the symptoms after consuming two alcohol beverages at a shop here.
“All the victims in their 40s were taken to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital but two of them died before they could receive treatment,” he told NSTP.
Veerapan said investigations found that the victims had consumed one bottle of alcohol beverage and another bottle partly.
He adds the authorities had probed the shop which sold the beverages to the victims.
“We had obtained the alcohol sample and are conducting further checks. If the level of the alcohol content is found to be higher then that was stipulated, then action would be taken,” he said.
Veerapan also said that authorities would conduct checks at 424 shops statewide which sell alcohol beverages to ensure that retailers adhere to the Food Regulation 1985, specifically section11 (1) (e) on labels and ingredients and 11 (1) (j) involving manufacturer / importer information.
In IPOH, a third person in Perak died from suspected alcohol poisoning.
State Health Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said the man, who has being treated at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) since Wednesday, died yesterday morning.
“This brings to three the number of deaths from suspected alcohol poisoning in the state.
“Another victim is still in critical condition.
“(However) a 35-year-old victim will be discharged today and there were no new admissions as of yesterday,” he said.
Sivanesan said this at press conference after launching Memory Walk 2018: Dementia Awareness, organised by the Dementia Society of Perak, at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreation Park here today.
On Sept 17, a 50-year-old man died of alcohol poisoning at the same hospital; while a 39-year-old man died at a private hospital here the following day.
To date, 35 people in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Negri Sembilan, mostly foreigners, had died from methanol poisoning, while dozens of others have been hospitalised.
Police suspect tainted bootleg liquor is to blame, and identified Grand Royal Whisky, Mandalay Whisky and Kingfisher beer as brands to avoid.
KW: alcohol, poisoning, dead, victims, methanol © New Straits Times Press
