A video clip of a naked female in a locker room, forced to perform repeated squats in front of a woman in police uniform and arms akimbo, has sparked an uproar in Malaysia that may not easily die down.

For one thing, the controversy comes at a time when Malaysia is preparing to play host to the 10-nation Asean summit next week. The grouping includes Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Burma.