Earlier this year, Swatch released their Pride collection a month ahead of Pride month. Unfortunately for the brand, the rainbow-themed watches were seized in several outlets by the Home Ministry as the designs featured symbols that were associated with the LGBTQ+ community.
The incident ended with the Swiss watchmaker filing a lawsuit at High Court in Kuala Lumpur. Earlier yesterday (Thursday, 10th August), the Home Ministry announced that Malaysia has now banned all Swatch products with Pride elements. Here’s what we know:
— KDN🇲🇾 (@KDNPUTRAJAYA) August 10, 2023
In an official statement released yesterday, it was said that the ban has been published under the provisions of Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publishing Act 1984 (Amendment) 2012. The law said, “Printing, importing, reproducing, publishing, selling, producing, circulating, distributing or possession of the publication involved is prohibited in Malaysia”.
The Ministry also announced that those in possession of the banned items, if convicted, will be jailed for not more than three years or fined not more than RM20,000, or both. In other words, owning products with LGBTQ+ influence is now illegal in Malaysia. “The Malaysian Government is committed to stopping the spread of elements that could be harmful to morality, as well as the interest of the public and nation, in society,” the Home Ministry stated.
As for the reason for the ban, the Ministry explained that Swatch’s Pride products could be detrimental to morality as it was promoting, supporting, and normalising the LGBTQ+ movement which is not accepted by the Malaysian government.
The ban on the brand’s Pride collection doesn’t come as a surprise as Malaysia has a strict anti-LGBTQ+ law which has been publicly challenged by UK band The 1975 when they performed at Good Vibes Festival last month.
What do you think of the ban? Was it necessary or a little too much?
