The government’s latest crackdown on private sexual behaviour has raised an important question.

Just how far can the state penetrate the private sex lives of its citizens?

Some sexual acts and same-gender relations are unambiguously criminalised. But where does that leave partner swapping, or even individual acts of self-pleasure?

On Aug 19, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed in the Dewan Rakyat that police had raided a luxury condominium in Kuala Lumpur after detecting a website promoting swinger activities.

Students, civil servants, and foreign nationals were among those detained, although Saifuddin stopped short of explaining whether...