MIB (Malaysians in black): They later scrawled the word “Perak” below the “Bubar Dun!!” just in case anyone had any doubts about what they were referring to. Photo courtesy of Lucia Lai. More pictures and report on her blog here.
2219: The atmosphere is pleasant and and the group of black-shirted patrons are chatting and enjoying their drinks and the camaraderie, reports a contact at the scene. Every now and then, they simultaneously raise A4 sheets of paper on which is printed “Bubar Dun Perak!“
The manager looks a little nervous while the other patrons seem a bit taken aback, but otherwise, all is peaceful. The wireless Internet service is still down.
The plainclothes police, to their credit, continue to remain at a polite distance away.
2201: Apparently, the wireless internet service at the kopi tiam has disappeared mysteriously; so that’s thrown a spanner into Dalbinder’s live coverage!
2147: They are carrying sheets of paper calling for the dissolution of the Perak State Assembly. Dalbinder has now turned up and is providing live coverage. Over to him here.
2130: More than two dozen people in black attire have now converged at a kopi tiam in Bayan Baru much to the surprise of the owners and other patrons.
They are sipping drinks outside while, at a courteous distance away, a few people who appear to be plainclothes police are keeping an eye.
Related posts:
Excellent! It gladdens the heart to see the spirit of freedom and justice is getting stronger in Najib’s 1PoliceState!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
hey i was there! took lots of photos and had some up in my blog anil, next thursday, you should join us. in fact there were 2 people asking me whether you were coming.
according to shu shi of suaram, it’s not necessary to gather at old town bayan baru but the people were asked to gather at any old town outlet near where they stay/works.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Ok let’s ALLLL gather again at Kampung Buah Pala tonight at 8pm for the vigil.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What will causing discomfort to other patrons, showing disrecpect to public order and stretching the short handed police do any good for society ?
What tangible good has this done? What has it done for the economy to help our poor?
What outcome have you achieved besides cheap publicity akin to jumping off the northpole with a proton saga.. both are nice to see but are as useful as selling a refridgerator to an eskimo..
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
we are in the middle of a recession and you people still have time to gather, create discomfort, scare away other customers instead of working hard to ensure that you get through these hard times.
you guys are living a very comfortable life, that’s one thing for sure.
poor oldtown, im pretty sure they suffered losing customers & rezeki while you nonchalantly use their business premise for your political interest.
Every minute you use harping on political issues is a minute for nation building wasted.
dah dah la tu, jgn perbesarkan pergaduhan, jgn jadi munafik
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ahmad shah and abc,
“What will causing discomfort to other patrons,…”
How was discomfort caused to other patrons? No one was harassing anyone physically (unlike how unauthorised personnel in the DUN dragged the Speaker off the hall) nor verbally.
What is so discomfiting about the sight of a bunch of people wanting to show solidarity and disagreement with the state of Perak – in a peaceful manner that brings business to the shop (more than the other patrons, mind you. And certainly more than what the police did last night in PJ in cordoning off the wrong roads to prevent the birthday party for Suu Kyi. It was the usual disproportionate reaction from the police, much like yours)?
If you’re talking about cognitive dissonance, then it must be your conscience eating you.
No one even approached the other patrons to solicit their opinion, ask for monetary donations or sell stuff – all of which happen daily in pubblic opinion polls conducted by legitimate companies, more iffy campaigns by charity organisations and beggars, and your friendly neighbourhood orange-haired DVD seller, respectively. So should we set the police on them (which we should in the case of the DVD seller, but I suspect you’d like the police to close one eye there).
“…showing disrecpect to public order…”
This is even funnier. What public order was disrespected? Drinking coffee with your buddies? Wearing the same colour T-shirt as your buddies? Meeting with buddies for a cuppa? Do you even understand what “public order” means?
“…and stretching the short handed police do any good for society ?
What tangible good has this done? What has it done for the economy to help our poor?”
The police are there by their choice. MP Sivarasa Rasiah had statistics of too many police SBs trail the Federal Opposition leaders when they would be more useful out in the streets chasing criminals who do actual harm. The opposition leaders are a democratic reality, who do “good for society” by keeping the ruling federal government in check, yet police see fit to treat them as enemies to be put under surveillance.
As for helping the poor, every citizen is already doing their part in paying taxes – it’s the job of the government. If the government were really doing its job, via the welfare department, there’d be no need for charity organisations. Instead, we have all those financial scandals whose culpability will probably never be resolved at this rate. That is where you and the coffee drinkers even should be training our anger on as well. That’s our money, meant for wise use in developing the country, building economy – “to help the poor” – down the drain!
The thing is, these coffee drinkers were not doing any harm. That is the benchmark of our human rights – that our freedoms are allowed as long as they caused no harm to others. In fact, they even contributed to the economy in their own small way – business for the shop!
“What outcome have you achieved besides cheap publicity akin to jumping off the northpole with a proton saga.. both are nice to see but are as useful as selling a refridgerator to an eskimo..”
Well, they sussed out uninformed opinions such as yours and the height of stupidity on the part of the police and BN government!
By stating their position so publicly, they emboldened others to assert their right to express themselves creatively, since the usual democratic recourse of the media (supposed to be keeping watch on all three arms of governance AND provide a forum for public opinion) is not doing its job, bound as they are by the laws and their political masters.
This is probably what worries the police and their political masters. More and more people are openly defying their excessive authority over their civil rights.
It’s a shame that you will be left behind and feeling more isolated and bewildered by what’s happening. But Malaysia is growing up democratically at long last.
———–
“you guys are living a very comfortable life, that’s one thing for sure.”
Not as comfortably as the corrupt UMNO warlords and fief kings. Read Off The Edge’s interview with Eli Wong on how the Bukit Lanjan forest reserve had been parcelled out acre by acre to the cronies. Also, look at the houses of the UMNO guys (Zakaria Deros being one. But someone also sent me pix of Mukhriz Mahathir’s garden party).
“poor oldtown, im pretty sure they suffered losing customers & rezeki while you nonchalantly use their business premise for your political interest.”
See above about creating business for the shop.
“Every minute you use harping on political issues is a minute for nation building wasted.”
I see it as “…a minute of further injustice.”
“dah dah la tu, jgn perbesarkan pergaduhan, jgn jadi munafik”
Pergaduhan berlaku kerana something wrong happened. This is not the government people voted for. It’s about asserting principles. Teaching your children what is right. Or they’ll never be able to respect you when they find out for themselves one day.
It’s an unstoppable tide that arose after 8 March. There’ll be old corrupt structures washed away, leaving a new clean beach to start afresh, establish democratic principles and rights.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
yep! tell it to them, siew eng.
so many of us were there… we gave them more business actually. and as i blog, the other patrons were not scared off at all. in fact most were amused and some even show some sign of support.
the govt. is so paranoid over public demo and protest although it is very peaceful, so what better way for us to show our protest than gathering together for a cuppa.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Waaahhhhhaaay to go to all you cool
MIB coffee-drinking kopi-tiamers!
Have looked very hard you see, but just
cannot see any delectable foodies there anywhere so have this one teensy weensy bit of a nigglingly troubling question to ask you all MIB kopi-tiamers: why were there not any 
tasty Penangite cakes served with the warm cuppas of hot coffee-tiams?
WE SAY YEAH! & NO TO ISA!
AND HARIS FOR AG & RPK FOR IGP! GO FOR DSAI FOR PM & LKS FOR DPM & KIND WAN AZIZAH FOR HOME MINISTER.
2009 Resolution: Seek out all garbage and recycle or dispose post haste for a healthier life and planet!
ADDENDUM: Protect coral reefs and all the good fishies in the seas!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
A police state in the making. See how the cops choose to spend our money – harassing legitimate political gatherings http://votecharles.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/900-cops-attend-dap-dinner-in-klang/
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0