2 in Perak die of alcohol poisoning

Perak exco A Sivanesan says adulterated alcoholic drinks were sold in the Bercham and Tanjung Rambutan areas. (AFP pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: After 20 deaths in Selangor, two men from Perak have also died from alcohol poisoning.

Perak Today reported that two men, from Bandar Baru Putra, Bercham, had died, one last Monday and the other on Tuesday.

State Health, Consumer Affairs, National Integration and Human Resources Committee chairman A Sivanesan said a 50-year-old man died on the way to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh on Monday while a 39-year-old man died at the KPJ Hospital early on Tuesday.

“Another two, aged 41 and 53, are in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital.

“Another man, aged 35, is reported to be in stable condition at the same hospital,” he told a press conference in Ipoh today.

Sivanesan said an investigation revealed that the men had bought adulterated alcoholic drinks, believed to be beer and whiskey, in the Bercham and Tanjung Rambutan areas.

“Those who consumed these drinks suffered blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath and body aches,” he said.

Selangor police chief Mazlan Mansor said today the death toll from toxic alcohol poisoning in the state had risen by one to 20 as of 1pm today.

The latest victim was a Malaysian, which brings the number of Malaysians to two, he said. The rest were five Nepalese, nine Myanmar, one Indian, two Bangladeshis and one unidentified person.

Sixteen people were still under treatment in hospitals, he said.

Mazlan said police had recorded 56 cases of toxic alcohol poisoning, including the deaths, in Selangor so far. -FMT