Lawyer New Sin Yew today said the Home Ministry had acted illegally to raid eleven Swatch stores and seize 172 items from the Swiss brand’s Pride Collection - which comprises watches in various shades of the rainbow - also adopted as a symbol of the LGBT community.

This follows the Home Ministry’s announcement that a ban on any Swatch watches under the collection, its boxes, accessories, or other related items - under Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 - was only gazetted today, three months after the raids were conducted.

“The raids on...