Malaysia has recently imposed a ban on Swatch watches that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, citing reasons of morality and public interest. The country’s Home Ministry stated that these Swatch products “harm or may harm morality, public interest, and the interest of the state by promoting, supporting, and normalising the LGBTQ+ movement which is not accepted by the general public in Malaysia.” This prohibition extends to LGBTQ+ references on watch boxes, wrappers, accessories, and other items associated with the brand. Violators, whether selling or possessing these banned products, could face imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of up to 20,000 ringgit.
The ban comes in the wake of a raid conducted earlier this year on Swatch stores across Malaysia, during which 164 rainbow-colored watches were confiscated by authorities. These watches, featuring colors mirroring the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, were equipped with two rainbow loops on their straps. The confiscated items were estimated to be worth $14,000 and were seized due to their perceived “LGBT connotations.”
Swatch has responded to the ban by initiating legal action against the Malaysian government, alleging that the seizures were unlawful and detrimental to the brand’s reputation. The raids were carried out under the authority of Malaysia’s Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984, with the justification that the watch collection posed moral harm.
This incident sheds light on the increasing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Malaysia, where conservative attitudes are on the rise. Same-sex relationships are punishable by caning under Islamic law, and colonial-era civil laws impose a 20-year prison sentence for sodomy. These laws, although rarely enforced, contribute to an environment of intolerance. As the nation heads into elections, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s progressive coalition, which does not support LGBTQ+ rights, will compete against a growingly popular conservative alliance.