A Rainbow Swatch Can Mean a 3-year Jail Term

Malaysia on Thursday banned Swatch watches and accessories with LGBTQ+ references and made possessing them punishable by up to three years in prison, a fine of up to RM20,000 or both, if convicted. 

 

The government said the ban is in line with provisions under Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act – they maintained that normalizing the gay community may harm the nation. 

 

“The Malaysian government (are) committed to preventing the spread of elements that are harmful or may harm morality, public interest and the country… or national interest, by promoting, supporting, and normalizing the LGBTQ+ movement that is not accepted by the general public in Malaysia”, the ministry declared. 

 

They did not specify which Swatch watches they banned, but in May, they seized 172 timepieces from the 2023 Pride collection (re: “Swatch's Pride Watches Impounded” published May 23, 2023).