[UPDATED] Swatch shops nationwide raided over Pride watches: report

KUALA LUMPUR – After Coldplay, furore by some quarters over displays of support for the LGBTQ community continues, with reports of Home Ministry enforcement officers raiding various Swatch outlets nationwide and confiscating the brand’s collection of Pride-themed watches.

The raids reportedly occurred on May 13 and 14, The Edge’s Options reported, and were conducted at Swatch outlets in locations that included Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Sunway Pyramid, Setia City Mall, Mid Valley Megamall, Sunway Putra Mall, Sogo Kuala Lumpur, and Fahrenheit 88.

Outlets in Johor Baru’s Mid Valley Southkey, Penang’s Queensbay Mall, and Suria Sabah were also raided, The Edge said.

Meanwhile, five outlets – at the Kuala Terengganu City Centre Mall, Aeon Kota Baru, Kedah’s Aman Central Mall, Johor Baru City Square, and Kuching’s Vivacity Megamall – received warning letters.

Swatch Group chief Nick Hayek Jr confirmed the raids in a statement published by The Edge, saying that the use of rainbow colours could not be deemed harmful to anyone.

He added that the brand is known to celebrate individuals through its colourful and fun watches. 

“Swatch is proud of being the canvas on the wrist for all people worldwide, and many artists working with us,” he was quoted as saying by Options, The Edge’s lifestyle counterpart.

“Creativity and colours paired with Swiss-made quality are what we are loved for. 

“We strongly contest that our collection of watches using rainbow colours and having a message of peace and love could be harmful to whomever.

“On the contrary, Swatch always promotes a positive message of joy in life. This is nothing political.

He also pondered how the Home Ministry’s regulation and enforcement division would “confiscate the many beautiful natural rainbows that are showing up thousand times a year in the sky of Malaysia”.

Swatch Group is said to be making an appeal for the confiscated watches to be returned.

Some media reporting the raids have noted that prior to the ministry’s enforcement action, a Facebook user on May 11 had posted pictures and a statement that connected Coldplay, gay Pride, and Swatch Pride watches.

The Vibes is attempting to reach Home Ministry representatives on the raids. News of Grammy-winning band Coldplay’s November performance in Kuala Lumpur was met with hostility from some politicians and religious leaders, who advised Muslims against attending the band’s concert, saying it would promote hedonistic values.

Nonetheless, government figures, including Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, said such events could boost the nation’s economy and those unhappy with the concert can simply not attend it. – The Vibes, May 22, 2023