No Provisions To Ban Sale Of Zam-Zam Water, Senate Told

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government has no authority to ban the sale of zam-zam water (spring water from Saudi Arabia) in the country, the Senate was told Thursday. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Khir Baharom said a ban could not be enforced on the sale of the water because there was no provision under the law for this. "It is true that zam-zam water is free in Saudi Arabia. Normally, when we ask traders, they'll say the price quoted is for the cost of transporting the zam-zam water back from Saudi Arabia," he said when winding up debate on the 2012 Supply Bill for the Prime Minister's Department. Meanwhile, in line with the announcement by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak when tabling the 2012 Budget, he said the scheme to withdraw Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for Haj registration would be implemented from Jan 1. He said EPF contributors must bring along their current EPF statements to any Tabung Haji counter for the registration. -- BERNAMA