Malaysiakini is hosting a chat session at 9pm today to provide an opportunity for readers to have an online discussion with ex-Internal Security Act detainee Hishamuddin Rais.

The film producer cum political activist will make himself available for one hour in a real-time chat with malaysiakini subscribers from around the world.

Hishamuddin, who is also a malaysiakini columnist, will be joining the chat session from the website's office in Bangsar Utama, Kuala Lumpur.

The ex-ISA detainee is acclaimed nationally and internationally as a talented film producer and widely respected for his courage and outspoken views.

Hishamuddin was arrested two years ago along with five other reformasi leaders and detained without trial until his release last month.

They were accused of conspiring to topple the government through illegal and forceful means, allegations that were never brought to an open trial.

Youth rebel

As a student leader in the 70s, Hishamuddin was active in the campaign to alleviate poverty among the poor, to the point, several times, of being at loggerheads with the government.

Facing mass arrests following the 1974 Air Molek and Banting demonstrations, Hishamuddin fled to Belgium, where the government granted him political asylum.

From 1974 to 1994, Hishamuddin delved in filming, studying and training for some time in the University of Westminster.

His works include such short films as 'From here to A long yesterday', 'Malaysian werewolf in London' and 'Three second of see'.

Hishamuddin also produced a full-length feature entitled 'Dari Jemapoh Ke Mancheste', which received praises from critics in the country. The film was also showcased in film festivals in Singapore as well as Rotterdam.

The unrepentant social activist is regarded as an intellectual seeking to bridge abstract ideas and concepts with the society at large.

Unorthodox views

As a columnist, he has contributed to Dewan Budaya, Men's Review , Vox , and Berita Minggu . His unorthodox views produced an adverse reaction from the authorities, who later ended his contributions to Berita Minggu .

From 1999, he was a regular contributor to malaysiakini, w riting under the column 'Dotmai'.

In 2000, he was granted a fellowship by the Asia Foundation to teach and conduct research in Japanese culture. However, he was forced to decline the opportunity when permission to leave the country was denied by the government.

Hishamuddin has agreed to speak to malaysiakini subscribers on his ideas and experiences in the struggle for reformasi in Malaysia.

Click here to go to malaysiakini 's chat room. The chat-room discussion is a service available only for subscribers.