SELANGOR police announced the death toll from alcohol poisoning has risen to 23 in the Klang Valley. 

Police in a statement today said as of 8pm yesterday, there were 19 deaths in Selangor and four in Kuala Lumpur.

 Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Mazlan said two Malaysians and two Myanmar nationals had died in Sentul. 

Seventeen are still in hospitals around the Klang Valley while 20 have been discharged. 

Initial investigations by the Federal Territory and Selangor Health Departments showed the victims had bought the deadly drinks from liquor stores in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Samples of the drinks have been sent to the Sg Buloh National Public Health Laboratory for analysis.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry said more people were expected to seek treatment for alcohol poisoning in the hospitals. Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said there could be more such cases and that the public would be updated accordingly on new developments in the case.

“We are doing everything we can to address this issue. We have confiscated 291 bottles of various alcohol brands, but there could be more out there.

“There is a possibility that more people will come for treatment,” he said. 

Malaysians and people from Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh and India make up the victims.

Police have raided several liquor shops in the Klang Valley and arrested at least seven proprietors. –  September 20, 2018.