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The excessive consumption of alcohol causes toxic effects in the body which impair judgment, coordination and mental performance. It is therefore prudent to limit the intake of alcohol to moderate levels. Those who drink alcohol are strongly advised not to operate motor vehicles, both for their own safety and others on the roads.
Over a period of years, the regular and routine ingestion of alcohol tends to increase the rate of aging, and causes harm to various tissues of the body. It can be especially damaging to the liver, and the gradual destruction of liver function is generally fatal in those who are strongly addicted to alcohol.
Of greater personal concern is the psychological effect that alcohol produces on the mind and spirit. It hardens the heart. Not literally, so far as is known, but in the ability to experience emotion. Alcohol drinkers are seen to be unfeeling, capable of cruelty to loved ones and strangers alike. They lack capacity to feel and express love and compassion.
A cruel and base act is often explained by the fact that the person committing it was under the influence of a drug at the time. Alcohol is such a drug. It allows the person under its influence to commit acts which are otherwise not possible.
Drinking may quickly become a regular habit, though alcohol drinkers always deny any addiction. In support of this claim a trend toward secrecy and lying may develop, and this then becomes a character trait. Alcohol tends to inhibit the conscience, and people are often invited to drink when there is a devious motive. Many a Malay maiden has learnt this to her dismay.
Relationship of the heart
Islam is a relationship of the heart. It is a close communion between a person and Allah. Alcohol destroys the ability to feel this emotional relationship. The loss of this relationship prevents a Muslim from getting the strength to live, to do good and to oppose evil. For this reason Muslims do not drink alcohol.
Public servants should be prohibited from drinking alcohol, because they have authority which might be abused. Police who otherwise would exercise prudence and fairness in their official capacity, when under the influence of alcohol may resort to excessive force against innocent members of the public who may come under their attention.
Ministers who daily make decisions that affect the welfare of the nation should not drink alcohol. It impairs their judgment, and prevents them from seeing reality. It allows them to participate in illegal activity. It allows them to act against their conscience. Good men become inured to injustice and criminal conduct.
Malaysia is a country with an Islamic majority. Islam is a religion that objects to the drinking of alcohol on principle. There is in Malaysia no law against drinking alcohol, and many of the members of the governing party regularly drink alcohol. Some are Muslims.
Politically, this is puzzling, because these ministers regularly stand before the Malaysian public and the Islamic world professing a desire to promote Islam. They offer themselves as an example.