PADANG SERAI - MUSLIMS in the country are being advised against drinking a type of beer claimed to be 'halal' (permissible) by the distributor because the beverage has been found to contain a higher alcohol content than permitted by Islamic law.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the company's claim that the beer contained only 0.01 per cent of alcohol was not true as a laboratory test showed up 0.5 per cent of alcohol.
He said the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) and the state Islamic affairs councils would prohibit the sale of the beverage to Muslims.
'We will consult the Royal Customs Department to seek more information on the matter,' he told reporters after closing a 'Juara Rakyat' programme organised by Padang Serai Umno at the Sungai Karangan public field near on Saturday evening.
A newspaper had reported on Saturday that the 'halal' beer was popular among Muslims and its sale was detected by the Johor Islamic Affairs Department (JAIJ) recently.
The daily had quoted a source as saying that JAIJ took samples of the beverage and found that the drink was produced from various fruit flavours and the alcohol content was 0.5 per cent. -- THE STAR/ANN
