KUALA LUMPUR – The Home Ministry’s ban on Swatch’s Pride-themed watches in the country has garnered criticism among social media users, mostly on freedom of ownership.
A Facebook user known as Muhammad Mahdi said it is a cruel decision that restricts people’s freedom.
“It is already 2023, and we are no longer in the British colonisation period that restricted freedom of expression. It is unclear how the LGBT community is bad for the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Twitter user @Schu_meichel said: “Wait a minute, so laws can be used maliciously now? What counts as ownership?
“Does receiving it in the mail constitute ownership? Imagine buying this anonymously and sending it to someone you dislike…. Does it mean they own that thing now?”
Twitter user @dzus77 joked about the announcement sarcastically, saying: “If there’s a rainbow over Malaysia, do they ask helicopters to fly next to it to try and blow it away?” while @Mahendran9501 said, “Imagine you love rainbow colours & bought the Swatch watch in Malaysia, and get the chance to spend your time in jail.”
While some users appeared to be making fun of the ministry for the announcement, others supported the ministry’s decision.
Twitter user @According2Fahmi said while he believes that the LGBTQ+ should not be side-lined or criticised by the community, he also does not agree with people promoting the lifestyle and culture of the said community in Malaysia.
“Therefore, I have no problem with this action (banning) because I feel that it (selling of the said watches) is promoting that culture.”
Twitter user @RadioRosak94 called LGBTQ+ a “disease” as they said: “A good move. We need to fight this disease”.
Also, Twitter user @IchiXIV is linking the ban to politics, saying that the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional coalition is not different from Perikatan Nasional in pandering, hate politics, and discrimination.
“Good luck then, in getting votes from the PN supporters while keeping your progressive voters’ support intact,” the user said.
Meanwhile, a Malaysian drag artist known as Carmen Rose told Scoop that she thinks the government should shift their focus to real issues like child marriages and reports of sexual harassment instead of wasting time trying to ostracise the LGBTQ+ community further here.
“It’s just ridiculous. They can try their best to ban this, but they can’t ban the existence of LGBTQ+ people; you just can’t. No matter how hard they try. We’ve always existed,” she said, adding that Swatch will be successful in suing the government.
In a statement today, the Home Ministry said the action was taken because the government is committed to preventing the spread of elements harmful to morality, public interest, and the state of the community.
“A prohibition order was implemented against the publication as it harms – or may harm – morality, public interests, and the state by promoting, supporting, and normalising the LGBTQ+ movement, which is not accepted by the general public in Malaysia.”
Any individual caught printing, importing, producing, publishing, selling, or being in possession of the watches may be charged with three years of imprisonment, a fine of no more than RM20,000, or both. – August 10, 2023