The Swatch Pride Collection of watches was the centre of a surprise controversy back in May, when the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) raided the brand’s stores to confiscate said watches. Now, the ministry has taken things a step further, by banning not only watches from the collection, but also its “boxes, wrappers, accessories or any other related things”.
In a statement by KDN on X, previously Twitter, the ban is gazetted under section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301). More specifically, the ban applies to “any publication related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and + Plus (LGBTQ+) in any form appearing on Swatch watches”, as well as the aforementioned related materials.
— KDN🇲🇾 (@KDNPUTRAJAYA) August 10, 2023
With the ban, naturally owning any of the Swatch Pride Collection watches are prohibited. The ban also extends to “the printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution”, beyond just simple ownership. Justifying the ban is that these items are “likely to be prejudicial to morality”, and therefore “absolutely prohibited throughout Malaysia”. Failure to comply with the ban, according to the aforementioned Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, carries a jail term of no more than three years, or a fine of no more than RM20,000, or both.
Last month, Swatch filed a lawsuit against the Malaysian government, and KDN over the seizure of of its Pride Collection watches. The company seeks the return of said watches, of which there are 172 in total, and collectively worth RM64,795. In addition to the return of the watches, the brand is also looking for compensation for aggravated and exemplary damages.
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