The home ministry raided 11 Swatch outlets in shopping malls across the country on May 13 and 14, seizing the brand’s rainbow-themed ‘Pride Collection’ watches.
According to Reuters, Swatch CEO Nick Hayek said he was disappointed and concerned by the ministry’s raids, and reiterated that the watches’ message of “peace and love” was not harmful to anyone. The Edge business weekly reported that the home ministry raided 11 Swatch outlets in shopping malls across the country, including Pavilion KL, 1 Utama, Sunway Pyramid, Mid Valley Megamall, and Suria Sabah, on May 13 and 14.
Enforcement officers seized the brand’s “Pride Collection”, featuring watches with rainbow colours, after social media users linked the collection to British band Coldplay’s support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.