Malaysia calls time out on Swatch’s pride collection: ‘No one likes LGBT community’
Activists say the raids reveal ‘deeply unsettling level of intolerance’ by the government towards the gay community Homosexuality remains an incendiary topic in Malaysia, where Muslims account for over 60 per cent of the population
Malaysian gay rights activists have condemned “deeply unsettling” government raids on Swatch outlets to seize pride-themed watches, as the nation’s LGBTQ community meet growing intolerance by Muslim conservatives.
The watches, from Swatch’s Pride Collection, timed for release before next month’s global Pride Month, feature rainbow colours along with messages of peace and love.
Raids by Home Ministry agents took place on May 13 to 14 across 11 Swatch outlets in Malaysia, mostly in major shopping centres, according to a seizure notice seen by This Week in Asia.
Twenty-two watches were seized from the Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, one notice said.
