Rainbow division: seizure of Swatch Pride watches splits social media

KUALA LUMPUR – Modern Malaysia is deeply divided over the rainbow, symbol of the LGBTQ community, based on netizen’s reactions to the Home Ministry’s raid on multiple Swatch outlets nationwide to confiscate the brand’s collection of Pride-themed watches.

News of the raid saw prominent lawyer and human rights activist Siti Kasim expressing her disappointment, questioning whether the ministry would attempt to “arrest” God for creating rainbows.

Numerous netizens shared her sentiment, adding that the ministry had used its resources poorly.

“So Malaysia is now wasting police resources to confiscate rainbow watches from Swatch stores? There will no longer be rainbows after the rain, because the police raided and confiscated the rainbows,” Twitter user @leeeee_martin sniped.

They also quipped that common rainbow-coloured products, such as desserts, colour pencils, and umbrellas, could be next to land in hot water.

The Home Ministry has not provided any comment to news of the raids, which were reportedly carried out on May 13 and 14.

The government’s stand, however, has always been to reform LGBT individuals, especially if they are Muslim. It has announced through the religious affairs minister that a special committee has been formed to handle matters and issues involving LGBT Muslims.

“The LGBT community’s rights to practise their lifestyle is still subject to laws that do not allow such behaviour in Malaysia,” Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said in a parliamentary written reply yesterday.

Prior to the raids, a Facebook post had connected the collection of watches to British band Coldplay and LGBT Pride, as frontman Chris Martin has waved the rainbow flag in previous concerts.

News of Coldplay’s concert in Kuala Lumpur this November 22 was met with hostility by several political figures and religious leaders, who claimed it would promote hedonistic values.

While Swatch Group chief Nick Hayek Jr condemned the ministry’s actions, saying that the use of rainbow colours could not be deemed harmful to anyone, detractors pointed out that the Pride rainbow, which has six colours, is different from natural rainbows which have seven.

“(The raid) is not because of colours, but because Swatch openly celebrates Pride month and introduced the Pride Collection. Any corporation in Malaysia is bound by law,” @Hela_whatttt commented.

“Respect the country’s rules and regulations. I doubt they (Swatch) are brave enough to contend with China or Saudi Arabia’s laws,” the same netizen added.

“Respect the country’s values wherever you operate. (You) need to brush up (on) your sentiment and cultural sensitivity,” user @mFaridSuhaimi said.

Meanwhile, gay and bisexual support group Jaringan Kebajikan Komuniti (Jejaka) issued a statement following news of the raids, questioning the legality of the ministry’s actions.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Jejaka said the raids “reveal a deeply unsettling level of intolerance” and asked for more acceptance and understanding of individuals who are different.

“We further urge the government to promote a culture of acceptance and understanding rather than repression and discrimination in these trying times,” Jejaka deputy president Dhia Rezki Rohaizad said in the statement. – The Vibes, May 24, 2023