Swatch Dares Malaysia to Confiscate Rainbows After Pride Watches Raid

A customer browses Swatch Group AG watches in London.

Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg 

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Multiple raids on Swatch Group AG’s stores in Malaysia over their sale of Pride-themed rainbow watches has sparked a furious response from the watchmaker and raised renewed doubts about the commitment of the nation’s six-month old coalition government to LGBTQ rights.

The Swiss-based firm blasted the move in an earlier statement after officials from Malaysia’s home affairs ministry confiscated more than a hundred watches from its Pride Collection — a series of timepieces with rainbow wristbands that come in six colors — at various malls across the country on May 13 and 14.