Muda deputy president wants minister to explain Swatch store raid

Muda deputy president Amira Aisya Abdul Aziz has called on Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to explain the government’s stand on the Swatch store raid last week.

Taking to Twitter, the Puteri Wangsa assemblyperson raised concern about the “ambiguity” of what was considered “harmful”.

“This is a slippery slope. Are we going to start raiding all shops, including small businesses, that sell anything with a rainbow or pride painted on it?

“We’re sending a message that it’s not safe for brands and companies to operate in Malaysia.

“The minister must explain the government’s stand on this matter. And where do we draw the line?” Amira (above) said.

Last week, 11 Swatch stores nationwide were raided by the Home Ministry for displaying its Pride Collection which comprises watches in various shades of rainbow - adopted as a symbol of the LGBT community.

Financial daily The Edge quoted Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek Jr who confirmed the raids on May 13 and 14, as well as seizures of numerous watches.

Hayek denied any political motives for the watches.

‘Table it in Dewan Rakyat’

Amira also attached a picture of a notice purportedly served by the Home Ministry to a Swatch branch in Mid Valley Megamall, stating that the 22 watches have been confiscated because they carried “LGBT symbols”.

The notice also stated that the watches had violated the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984.

Amira raised concern that the law was open to abuse, citing Section 7(1) of the Act, which gives the home minister 'absolute discretion' to prohibit the production, sale, circulation, distribution or possession of any media that is likely to be prejudicial to public order or alarm public opinion.

“If this (confiscating the watches) is the government's stance, table it in Dewan Rakyat and let the MPs debate and decide.

“It shouldn’t be at the whims and fancy of whoever is the minister of the day,” she said.

While many global brands and retailers have an annual range of rainbow-themed items released in conjunction with pride month every June, such products are typically not made available in stores in Malaysia or other Muslim-majority countries with a strong stand against the LGBT community.

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