MY High Court orders govt to return 'illegally' seized Swatch Pride watches

The Malaysian High Court has reportedly ordered the Home Ministry (KDN) to return all 172 seized Swatch watches to the brand following an "illegal seizure". 

High Court judge Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh said KDN's search of Swatch stores in May last year and seizure of the brand's Pride collection were illegal as the search was made without a warrant, according to media reports. In addition, the judge noted that KDN only banned the Pride watches after the seizure. This means at the time of the seizure, Swatch had not contravened any law or order, the judge added.

As such, all the watches seized are to be returned within 14 days of the court order. 

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Judge Singh reportedly did not make any court order for the government to pay compensation to Swatch Group. However, the brand is free to apply for compensation if the watches that are returned are damaged in any way. 

In May 2023, it was reported that Malaysia authorities had raided a number of its stores and confiscated 164 rainbow-coloured watches worth a total of US$14,000 from its Pride collection for LGBTQ connotations. 

The seizure was reportedly based on the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984 which ensures that content produced does not offend or undermine race relations.

Swatch then released a statement by its CEO, Nick Hayek Jr. nothing that it "strongly contests" the idea that its rainbow watches, which were put out with the message of peace and love, could be harmful. 

He noted that Swatch has always promoted the positive message of having joy in one's life and that there was nothing political in its messaging. He ended his statement by questioning how the Regulatory and Enforcement Division of the Home Ministry will "confiscate" the many natural rainbows that appear in Malaysia skies yearly. 

In August 2023, KDN banned all Swatch products which contained elements pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community, be it on boxes, wrappers or accessories. 

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