Kuala Lampur, Dec. 18 -- Are we better off trying to curtail freedoms in Malaysia?

This must reverberate, the soft or hard path choice debate, in the prime minister's brain trust. The last Pakatan Government collapsed in bitter form in 2020 after being outflanked by the right.

Anwar Ibrahim is an accomplished Islamist, perhaps more in the eyes of an international audience rather than the local one presently but still holds the reputation. And appreciates how easily the administration can become tone deaf.

Recently, it has waded into the conservative pool.

From announcing expanded programmes to teach deeper nationalism in universities to harassing spas in the city with a disproportionate male clientele, the government's convinced Malay...