A HOME Ministry source has revealed that the Swatch rainbow-themed “Pride Collection” watches that were seized by the ministry this month contained the letters “LGBTQ” inscribed on the face.
The source was quoted as saying by FMT that the officials only took the timepieces that bore the words “LGBTQ” (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer).
“We seized hundreds of watches and all of them had the “LGBTQ” letters on the face of the watch,” the insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the news portal.
The source added that they did not confiscate the clocks simply because they were rainbow-coloured, claiming that had they done so, they would have to seize the Paddle Pop ice-creams as well.
The Home Ministry officers had raided Swatch stores nationwide, including at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, One Utama, Sunway Pyramid, Setia City Mall, Mid Valley Megamall, Mid Valley Southkey, Sunway Putra Mall, Sogo KL, Queensbay Mall, Fahrenheit 88 and Suria Sabah on May 13-14.
Five Swatch stores in Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Johor and Sarawak had received warnings, according to a report by The Edge business weekly.
Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek was previously reported as saying on Friday (May 26) that the timepieces seized by the government did not make any reference to the LGBT community.
Hayek said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was misinformed when he indicated the watches were seized because of LGBT elements, and that no reference to the LGBT community was depicted on the dials of the timepieces.
“The Malaysian Prime Minister Mr Anwar Ibrahim stated in a recent interview that Swatch’s latest collection of colourful watches includes the letters LGBT on their dials. Apparently, he was misinformed,” Hayek insisted.
“Swatch has not included any reference to the LGBT community on the dials of this year’s Pride Collection. These colourful watches include the meaning of each pride colour (life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony, spirit) on their minute hands and two loops that form a rainbow.” – May 29, 2023
Main pic credit: Swatch
