Malaysia has banned Swatch watches and accessories celebrating LGBTQ+ rights.
On Thursday, the Malaysian government said
the Swiss watchmaker's products may be harmful to morality and public interest.
"Swatch products are subject to the
Prohibition Order because they are publications that harm or may harm morality,
public interest, and the interest of the state by promoting, supporting, and
normalising the LGBTQ+ movement which is not accepted by the general public in
Malaysia," the government said.
Selling or owning the banned material is
punishable by up to three years in jail and a fine of up to 20,000 ringgit
(£3,426), it said.
In May, Malaysia confiscated rainbow-coloured
watches from Swatch's 'Pride collection' because of the presence of the acronym
'LGBTQ' on the watches.
The company has since sued the Malaysian
government for the May seizure, which it says was illegal and damaged its
reputation.
LGBTQ rights in Malaysia have come under
scrutiny after the government last month halted a music festival in the capital
Kuala Lumpur.
It took the move after Matt Healy, frontman
of The 1975 kissed a male bandmate onstage and criticised the country's
anti-LGBTQ laws.
The 1975 were subsequently banned from
Malaysia with the government demanding damages from The 1975 over allegations
that Healy's "abusive language, equipment damage and indecent stage
behaviour".
Swatch has not yet commented on the recent
ban.
Post a Comment