Fixation with rainbow colours does no one any good

 

It was an abject failure. It was not for want of trying. Time, money, and effort were expanded into this “experiment” but there was not an iota of evidence that what the government said was true.

The letdown warrants an unreserved apology but I am at a loss of words to frame it to the government whose words and actions prompted it in the first place.

If watches with coloured dials and straps could be detrimental to morality, it is mere hearsay without any substantiation or to put it crudely, a falsehood.

Over the past few days, I boarded public transport, ate in a crowded restaurant, visited the local council office and even a police station. I was unable to influence, let alone convert, able-bodied souls of the male gender.

Not one had a word to say. No one gave me winks especially since I have a ring on my right ear, which often is the mistaken belief that you are one of them.

If previously one had to look at the colours and read the words on the dial on the watches, I was more conspicuous.

I could not have crossed-dressed but the rainbow colours on my T-shirt matched the watch strap – a perfect way the promote the cause as suggested by the authorities.

Perhaps, I was an old uncle, but who says senior citizens cannot be part of a grouping called LBGTQ+?

This experiment was the result of the Home Ministry’s ban on Swatch watches two months ago on the grounds that “they are detrimental, or possibly detrimental, to morality, the public interest and national interest by promoting, supporting, and normalising the LGBT movement which is not accepted by the general public of Malaysia.”

I could have bought one of the banned watches on my recent overseas sojourn but I chose to be on the right side of the law because it explicitly states that even possession is an offence.

I just chose the easier and cheaper option – purchase three watches with straps with rainbow colours online for a miserly RM22.87 including postage.

The public, we were told by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, had many complaints and hence his officials had to act. But I do not think anyone cared about it to prompt complaints or police reports.

If there had been any, it would have been the odd kepoh (busybody), a disgruntled customer, or a religious zealot who also seems allergic to the sight of crosses in the false belief that these are tools of proselytization.

The Swiss watch company, however, claimed that the authorities did not just seize Swatch watches bearing the wording “LGBT” but had also seized watches from the 2023 Pride collection which do not carry it.

“The concerned watches are from this year’s collection and do not bear any LGBT wording on dial, strap or case,” it said in a statement.

Subsequently, I wrote: “In night markets and along Petaling Street, material such as T-shirts, wrist bands, pins – the whole range is available. Yet, the watch was chosen as a convenient target.

“What will they do next? Raid stalls in pasar malam or block access to online portals where Pride paraphernalia is available at the click of a button?

“The Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 has become an expedient tool to show that the government is ‘greener than green’ and its shade of green is the brightest – even being able to stop people from wearing watches with multi-coloured straps.

Furthermore, the watches were seized in May but the order to ban was only published in the Gazette on Aug 12 – three days before Malaysians went to vote in the state elections in six states.

I then wrote: “If it was aimed at showing that the federal coalition government is greener than the opposition, it did not work. If it was aimed at placating conservatives that it was against LGBT elements, it was ignored.

“Seizing and later banning Swatch watches with rainbow colours did much more - making the prime minister and country a laughing stock in the eyes of the world.”

So, what now? Five months after the seizure, has anything changed except the composition of the government in six states?

By the way, it has been proven that watches and rainbow colours cannot and do not promote, support, and normalise the LGBT movement. Have the authorities acted for political expediency and pulled the wool over our eyes? - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.