Malaysia: Malt Soft Drinks Halal For Muslims, Says National Fatwa Council

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) — The National Fatwa Council has ruled that malt soft drinks like Barbican are allowed to be consumed by Muslims.

It said these products were processed not for making alcoholic drinks and the alcohol content derived from the process was very low and not intoxicating.

“Hence, such drinks are allowed to be consumed by Muslims in line with the decisions made by the council at its previous series of muzakarah or discussions(in 1984, 1987, 1988 and 2010),” National Fatwa Council chairman, Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin, told a news conference, here, Monday.

These series of discussions were on the alcohol content in food, drinks and medicines and the decision on the malt drinks which was announced today, was made at the council’s muzakarah held from June 16 and 18 this year.

“With that decision, Muslims need not worry about the status of these drinks as they are halal (permitted) for Muslims,” said Abdul Shukor.

However, he said, the muzakarah also advised producers of malt drinks not to use labels, brands and the likes that could cause confusion to consumers, especially Muslims.

Abdul Shukor had earlier attended the presentation of contributions to mosques and surau and launching of the national-level Ihya’ Ramadan programme by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom at the Al-Muqarrabin Mosque in Bandar Tasek Selatan.

— BERNAMA