The watches in rainbow colors from the Swiss company Swatch are popular – as a statement for LGBTQ. The Malaysian Ministry of the Interior, however, considers the “Pride Collection” to be “damaging to morals” – and bans the watches.
The Malaysian government has criminalized the possession of products from Swiss watch company Swatch’s LGBTQ collection – including watches, packaging materials and boxes.
According to media reports, the watches with reference to the demands of homosexual, bisexual, transsexual or queer people harm morals, the public and the national interest “by promoting, supporting and normalizing the LGBTQ movement”. Ministry of the Interior. This is not accepted by the general public in Malaysia.
Heavy penalties for possession of Pride products
Violations of the ban can result in up to three years in prison or a fine of around 4,000 euros – or even both. The background is that homosexuality is forbidden in predominantly Islamic Malaysia. Penalties range from flogging under Islamic law to 20 years in prison.
A watch from the Pride collection by Swatch.
The watches in Swatch Malaysia’s “Pride Collection” are inspired by “the iconic Pride flag,” according to the company’s website. Each watch wears one of their colors and a rainbow ribbon to celebrate society’s diversity. Some of the watches are rainbow colored, while others are offered in one color in the six colors of the rainbow. Swatch rejected the accusation that the watches were bad for morale.
Ban just ahead of provincial elections
The timing of the ban is no coincidence: Political observers in Kuala Lumpur see the criminalization of the products as an attempt by the government to score points with conservative Muslim voters two days before six important provincial elections.
The respective parliamentary elections are considered a referendum on the multicultural and multi-religious reform government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Observers believe that the Islamist party PAS, which emerged from the national parliamentary elections in November 2022 as the largest opposition party, is likely to gain strength further.
Pride watches confiscated back in May
The Interior Ministry had already seized more than 170 watches from the brand’s “Pride Collection” in May during searches of several Swatch stores in luxury shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur.
Swatch Malaysia then challenged the seizure of 172 watches in the Supreme Court. This is illegal, according to the watchmaker, because the watches do not fall under the “Printed Materials and Publications” Decree relied on by the Home Office.