Sarawak-Based Brewery Receives Backlash for Its “Santubong” Beer & Removes It from Market, Here’s Why

A local craft beer brewery brand, Zebrew, has pulled one of its products from the market after immense backlash due to the heritage behind the product’s name, Santubong.

Taking to their Facebook page, the Sarawak-based brewery brand explained that the decision was made based on the not-so-great responses to the product’s name.

They wrote, “Dear friends, due to the overwhelming response and attention around the name Santubong, we’ve decided to mark history with this product. After much thought, the name and product will no longer be used going forward, and the product has been removed from the shelves.”

“Santubong” beer pulled from the shelves after facing backlash

According to a report by The Borneo Post, prior to the brewery choosing to pull its product, protests over the craft beer product’s name were led by Santubong Member of Parliament (MP) Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri and her constituents.

Nancy, who is also the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), objected to the product’s name because having an alcoholic beverage named after Mount Santubong is considered insensitive, especially considering a majority of those living around Mount Santubong, Kuching, are Muslims.

She also urged the authorities to look into this matter and to take action accordingly.

Following the brewery’s decision to pull the product, Nancy shared her delight over the matter and thanked her constituents for standing up for their concerns.

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