Home Ministry raids Swatch shops nationwide over Pride watches: report

KUALA LUMPUR – After Coldplay, furore by some quarters over displays of support for the LGBTQ community continues, with reports of Home Ministry enforcement officers raiding various Swatch outlets nationwide and confiscating the brand’s collection of Pride-themed watches.

The raids reportedly occurred on May 13 and 14, The Edge’s Options reported, and were conducted at Swatch outlets in locations that included Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Sunway Pyramid, Setia City Mall, Mid Valley Megamall, Sunway Putra Mall, Sogo Kuala Lumpur, and Fahrenheit 88.

Outlets in Johor Baru’s Mid Valley Southkey, Penang’s Queensbay Mall, and Suria Sabah were also raided, The Edge said.

Meanwhile, five outlets – at the Kuala Terengganu City Centre Mall, Aeon Kota Baru, Kedah’s Aman Central Mall, Johor Baru City Square, and Kuching’s Vivacity Megamall – received warning letters.

Swatch group chief Nick Hayek Jr confirmed the raids in a statement published by The Edge, saying that the use of rainbow colours could not be deemed harmful to anyone. – The Vibes, May 22, 2023

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