PETALING JAYA: No reference to the LGBT community has been included on the dials of this year's Pride collection of watches, says Swatch Group.
In a media statement, group CEO Nick Hayek said the colourful watches had the meaning of each Pride colour - life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony and spirit - on their minute hands and two loops that formed a rainbow.
A Malay portal (Berita Harian) had reported Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as saying that "the watches had 'LGBT' placed on them." The Prime Minister however had conceded that he did not have all the details about the case and would leave it to the Home Ministry to clarify.
The Home Ministry had raided 11 Swatch stores in the country on May 13 and 14. More than 160 of the Pride collection watches were seized, which the company said were worth a total of US$14,000 (RM64,409). According to The Guardian, the headquarters in Switzerland had instructed Swatch Malaysia to replenish the stock.
Earlier in a statement to Reuters, Hayek said, "We strongly contest that our collection of watches using rainbow colours and having a message of peace and love could be harmful for whomever."
Reuters also quoted a report from the Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger where Swatch Group stated that it would take legal action to recover the goods.
