In a significant ruling, the High Court of Malaysia has ordered the Home Ministry to return 172 seized Swatch-branded watches valued at over USD$13,500 (RM64,000), linked to the Pride movement. 

These watches were confiscated during a controversial raid on Swatch stores last May.

Of the 172 seized watches, 143 featured six designs from last year’s Pride collection, while 29 designs were from previous years.

Last August, the Home Ministry announced a ban and prohibition order, saying that the import, production, sale, circulation, distribution or possession of such watches is likely to be prejudicial to morality throughout Malaysia.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who came into power two years ago on a progressive campaign, said LGBTQ+ rights would not be recognised by his administration.

However, High Court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh said that the Ministry’s actions were illegal, emphasising that “the search was made without a warrant… and therefore any seizures made are illegal”.

The judge granted an order to quash the Ministry’s seizure notices, asserting that the watches were not breaking any laws at the time of their confiscation.

“The prohibition was issued after the seizure; therefore, at the time of the seizure, the applicant did not contravene any law,” added Singh.

He ordered that all watches be returned within 14 days of the ruling.

Despite the favourable ruling for Swatch, no legal costs were awarded to the company.