The government has been urged to ban samsu or ensure that the alcohol content of the brew is reduced to a maximum of five percent, said the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP).

Citing a survey it conducted in Nibong Tebal, it claimed that samsu could contain up to 60 percent of alcohol at times, well beyond the permissible level of 22 percent - which is even higher than the permissible alcohol content for liquor (five percent) and beer (11 percent).

CAP officer NV Subbarow urged the health ministry to take strict action against those who flout the rules. (While there are licensed manufacturers of samsu, there are reportedly also backyard stills.)

He said the survey revealed that many outlets have been selling samsu without a permit from the ministry.

"CAP has always campaigned for a samsu ban. But if the government is so keen to collect tax, then it should at least reduce the alcohol content of samsu to below five percent," Subbarow said.

Taman Hye Keat MIC branch chief L Balasupramaniyam agreed with the need to combat samsu addiction, saying that the government, Indian-based political parties and non-governmental organisations should work together on this.

"It is time for the government to recognise that samsu is a killer drink and the root of many social problems affecting Indian Malaysians. It should be banned," he said.

Social problems

Samsu addiction has been blamed for the incidence of crime and social problems affecting some 5,000 Indians in nine estates in Seberang Perai Selatan district near Nibong Tebal.

The CAP survey found that samsu is readily available in many of the sundry shops in these estates and that addicts drink it on an average of three times a day.

Police investigations over the years have revealed that most Indian Malaysian male adults and youths involved in domestic violence, gang fights, fatal accidents and quarrels in these estates are also samsu drinkers.

An average of 30 reports are being lodged each month at the four police stations in the district. Samsu addicts, aged between 20 and 65, predominantly from the lower and low-middle income groups, were involved in most cases.

"Samsu is easily the main cause behind the criminal and social problems in this district. Addiction has resulted in broken families, wife beating, child abuse and at times, killings," a police officer told malaysiakini on condition of anonymity.

As most samsu addicts are the breadwinners, their loss of jobs or death have affected the well being of their families and education of their children.

ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer