Timah: What a Name!

On October 16, 2021, the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) called for the government to ban a local brand liquor called 'Timah'. Its advertisement displays a long bearded man with a skull cap resembling a religious person. CAP education officer N.V. Subbarow slammed relevant authorities for permitting the item to be sold in the country.

Source: https://whisky.my

"The brand name 'Timah' insults the Muslim community as it resembles a Malay and Muslim name shortened from the name 'Fatimah'” said Subbarow. The Malaysian-made whisky is sold at RM190 per bottle containing 40 per cent alcohol. "We are calling for the government to come clean on the issue. We urge the relevant authorities to ban the product immediately," he said.

Based on @TIMAHWhiskeyOfficial via Facebook, it has come up with an explanation regarding the name Timah which was referring to the Malayan tin mining era during the British colonial days of Malaya.

Timah in Bahasa Melayu means "tin", a soft silvery-white metal ore, and Malaysia was once a major producer of tin. It also explained that the man depicted on the whisky label was Captain Speedy, who introduced whisky culture back then. "TIMAH is meant to be enjoyed by non-Muslims above the legal alcohol purchasing age” according to Winepak Corporation – the promoters.

Another Malaysian brandy named “Sahip” has also run into controversy. New Straits Times reported that Dr Shamsher Singh Thind, who is a lawyer and criminologist based in George Town, Penang, says the domestic brandy's name is similar to the word "sahib".  Sahib is an Arabic loanword that has passed into several Indian languages, where it's used to refer to "sir" or "master", and sometimes as an honorific title for names of saints and gurus. According to Shamsher, it's not just Timah that Malaysians should be focusing on.

He argues, that the label on the Sahip bottle "shows a bearded man in a turban on the horse carrying a flag, which strikes an uncanny similarity to the famous portrait of Guru Gobind Singh Ji".

Source: http://sixthseal.com

Then there is “Omar”, “Abu Nawas”, “Royal Salute” among other whiskey brands which could confuse the public!

Seriously, there is no end to imagination on how one could perceive a brand name. Can we have some sanity here, instead of being the butt of jokes? Don’t we have better things to do?

References:

CAP calls for ban on “Timah” alcohol, Zuhainy Zulkiffli, New Straits Times, October 17, 2021 (https://www.nst.com.my)

A Sikh lawyer now wants Malaysian-made Sahip brandy banned for sounding like “Sahib”, Sadho Ram, October 19, 2021 (https://says.com)