Citizens’ Right to Wear Black and Drink Kopi-O

BERSIH urges all parties to respect Malaysians’ right to wear black and drink black coffee (Kopi-O) as ordinary netizens are organizing Kopi-O sessions in several Old Town White Coffee outlets this Thursday, through the 1BLACKMalaysia campaign on Facebook.

The 1BLACKMalaysia campaign was conceptualised to mourn the death of democracy in Perak and Malaysia.

Last week, five Old Town White Coffee outlets – Jaya One, Three Two Square, 3rd Mile Square Old Klang Road, Sunway Mentari and Bangsar South – chosen by Facebook members as gathering points for such Kopi-O sessions were mysteriously closed down on Thursday late afternoon, for "upgrading work" or "private functions". They resumed business the very next morning on Friday (5 Nov 2009).  Some notices were even handwritten, suggesting a last-minute decision was taken to shut for the day.

According to a report by online news portal MerdekaReview, a staff member at one of the Old Town White Coffee outlets claimed that their drinks-making machines were out of order or needed an upgrade. The staff members claimed that they were not aware of the Facebook invitation to drink Kopi-O at Old Town outlets.

BERSIH hopes that the closures were indeed coincidental and not caused by any undue influence. If the authorities force the Old Town White Coffee to close its outlets just to bar patrons wearing black, it is tantamount to "sabotaging" the national economy and should be investigated by the Police.

It is BERSIH wish that there will be no "equipment breakdown" in the six outlets so far picked by Facebook members as meeting points: Jaya One, 3rd Mile Square Old Klang Road, Bangsar South, Bandar Puteri Puchong and Aman Puri Kepong. It would be silly if any party tries to orchestrate a “local hartal” of Old Town outlets. After all, if this campaign continues every week, can Old Town outlets afford to shut down every time they see customers in black entering their restaurant?

BERSIH is confident that the Police will respect Malaysians’ right to wear black and drink Kopi-O with friends. Any attempt by the Police to harass, intimidate and arrest Kopi-O drinkers in black, will only make the Najib Administration look like an "uncivilised" regime.

Malaysians who wish to drink Kopi-O in black this Thursday night (11 June 2009) should be able to patronise their favourite shops or restaurants without fear or anxiety. They are in effect patriotically supporting the national economy by increasing domestic demand, by consuming local products.

For enquiries, please contact BERSIH steering committee member Wong Chin Huat at (019) 3502823.