Selangor police chief Mazlan Mansor also revealed that seven people – three Malaysians and four foreign nationals – have been detained.

But police, he said, were still waiting for the official report from the hospital on the cause of death.

“Following the incident, police have classified the cases under Section 304(b) of the Penal Code,” he said at a press conference at Shah Alam today.

On Tuesday, 50 people – mostly foreigners – became victims of alcohol poisoning after they consumed three brands of alcoholic drinks purchased from shops in the Klang Valley. Of this number, 17 have died.

Mazlan also said of the 50 victims reported, 24 remained in hospital and nine were discharged.

Police, he added, had launched 13 raids throughout Selangor to search for the alcoholic drinks consumed by the victims.

They have since seized 1,030 whiskey bottles and 1,767 beer cans under the Customs Act.

“We have been informed that several shops were closed right after the cases were reported.

“It could be because they want to stay away from getting involved or taking precautions in the wake of the recent raids.”