Mufti Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said that while the distillers have described Timah to be the Malay word for tin, “Timah” could be construed as referring to Fatimah, daughter of Prophet Muhammad, and be regarded by Muslims as being offensive.

Speaking to FMT, he said while there are discerning Muslims who know that alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Islam, there are some who remain ignorant.

“Not all Muslims are religious and not all are committed to the teachings of the religion. Also, don’t take for granted that Muslims would know what the drink is.

“Most Muslims also do not know the origins of the Timah brand and the man portrayed on the label.”

“For them, Timah is a short form of the Prophet’s daughter. I suggest that the brand be changed to Captain Speedy, which I believe is more appropriate,” he said.

The mufti’s comments come in the wake of complaints about the name that were raised after reports last week about the whiskey being launched globally, a few months after it won international awards in London and San Francisco.

The label bears the slogan “1871 – The Legend of Captain Speedy”, a reference to Captain Tristam Speedy, who was the first superintendent of police in Penang, and who later helped to end the Larut Wars in Perak at the request of Ngah Ibrahim, the local chieftain.

An image of a bearded Captain Speedy wearing headgear appears on the label. Critics have also described the image as being similar to the Muslim kopiah.

Consumers’ Association of Penang president Mohideen Abdul Kader said that while Captain Speedy was a recognisable figure during the colonial period, he is not well-known today.

“While the branding might have been conceived unconsciously, the authorities should have stopped it for disrespect to religion. The makers of the drink must understand the current situation, where many people don’t know who Speedy is.

“Regardless of the name, we at CAP say alcohol is bad for health and should be avoided at all costs,” he said.

PAS’ Ulamak info chief Mohd Nor Hamzah also said the government should stop allowing more local breweries or distilleries from sprouting.

He said checks with the intellectual property regulators showed that Timah was registered as a trademark in 2019.

Mohd Nor said the open sale and promotion of alcoholic beverages must be ended because of its negative impact on society and youths as a whole.