Rainbow-coloured watches made by Swatch Group that celebrate LGBT rights have been confiscated by authorities in Malaysia

 

Rainbow Swatch watches confiscated in Malaysia

Reuters

Mei 24, 2023 

Malaysia's ministry of internal affairs seized the Swatch watches during raids on May 13 and 14, Swatch Group said. - REUTERS

Rainbow Swatch watches confiscated in Malaysia

Malaysia's ministry of internal affairs seized the Swatch watches during raids on May 13 and 14, Swatch Group said. - REUTERS

ZURICH: Rainbow-coloured watches made by Swatch Group that celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights have been confiscated by authorities in Malaysia, the company said on Wednesday.

Malaysia's ministry of internal affairs seized the Swatch watches during raids on May 13 and 14, it said.

The ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The watches belong to the Swiss watchmaker's "Pride collection" which it says was created to celebrate the pride movement and its message of equality and diversity.

The home ministry raided 11 Swatch shops last week over the brand’s “Pride Collection” featuring watches with rainbow colours, according to a media report.

The Edge business weekly reported that the raids were conducted on May 13-14 at Swatch outlets in shopping malls, including Pavilion KL, One Utama, Sunway Pyramid, Mid Valley Megamall, Suria Sabah and others.

Five shops at malls in Alor Setar, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Johor Bahru, and Kuching were let off with warnings.

The raid reportedly came after netizens linked the collection to British band Coldplay’s support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.