Jamu to be made in Malaysia

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Indonesian medicinal and tonic drinks, locally known as jamu, will soon be produced in Malaysia, Antara reported here yesterday.

Carrying the brand name "Madura Jamu", it will be produced by businessman T. Abdul Rachman Daud, an Indonesian from North Aceh. He told the news agency his herbal jamu manufacturing company would be set up in Subang, Malaysia, at a cost of Rp 1.5 billion.

He said the company would also act as a distribution center for the variety of Indonesian jamu products he began marketing in Malaysia in 1970.

Indonesian jamu products are quite popular in Malaysia. "Like Indonesians, many Malaysians still prefer to use traditional medicines," he said.

Daud said the factory would employ Malaysians, except for the jamu experts who have to be recruited from Java. Raw materials would come from Indonesia and Iran. (swe)