His cheeky face said it all. The piercing banshee-like laugh, his mischievous eyes and his wild look, promised an interesting night.

Hishamuddin Rais, the social activist, writer, comedian, film director, philosopher, and person who has notched-up 10 prison terms in four countries, was the stand-up comic at The Horse, a pub on the Westminster Bridge Road, in London.

The venue was packed with Malaysian students, the Malaysian community and a sprinkling of Mat Sallehs with an interest in Malaysia.

 

The controversial activist, away from the prying eyes of the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development (Jakim), was in his element and he revelled in it.

Equally at home in sunny Brickfields, or in the heart of Brixton, Hisham had lost none of his charm or his invective against the Umno dominated Malaysian government, which he blasts for the “bonsaification” of the Malay mind.

 

He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to perform in London and said that it had been several years since his last stand-up performance.

 

He said, “I used to have regular gigs in 2004, 2005 and 2006 but the government said, ‘Hisham Rais kutuk umno, kutuk BN (Hisham keeps condemning BN, criticising Umno). Don’t give him anymore gigs.’”

 

As the predominantly Malaysian crowd settled in to watch him, Hisham observed the audience. He knew they were desperate for answers and anxious about the worsening social and political environment at home. They looked at him, as if he was their saviour - the second Messiah.

  Laughter ripples through silence

 

With an air of solemnity, like a judge about to pass sentence, he said, “People always ask me about the solution.

 

“The solution is in your hands. Just like when you were in your younger days, the solution has always been in your hands.” His face broke out into a devilish grin.

 

There was stunned silence. Hisham must have thought the Jakim effect was more pronounced than he expected.

After what seemed like several minutes, but was actually a few seconds, a slow ripple of laughter broke out.

Perhaps, the Malaysians remembered that they were in London and soon, were laughing at Hisham’s double-entendre. Who would have thought Jakim had such a wide reach?

 

Hisham talked about the 70,000 Malaysians in London and praised the 6,000 Malaysians who were illegal immigrants.

 

He said, “The Bangladeshis, Burmese and Indonesians who become illegal immigrants in Malaysia have got their priorities wrong. If you want to be an illegal, you go to London, not Kuala Lumpur!

 

“These 6,000 illegal Malaysians are the cool dudes.”

  Gradual eviction of locals

The crowd wanted more. Hisham described how the local cockney accent had been replaced by other tongues.

He mentioned the increase in the price of fish and that the gawky fishmonger’s daughter, he once knew, was no longer around. The fish stall was there, but had been taken over by a foreigner.

 

Hisham( right ) said, “Wong Kee’s duck rice was £2.20 but was now £7.00. A can of coke was 25 pence. London underground was cheap. Salmon fish heads used to be 20 p a piece. Now they are 50 pence each.”

 

The dinner that night was to be salmon fish-head curry. The health conscious Hisham, who has written a book, called Tapai, on ulam and other local delights, takes charge of the kitchen and cooks for himself and his group of young student activists.

 

Hisham has not resumed his career as a stand-up comic, in London, although he is in England, together with members of ‘Teater Bukan Teater’.

For three weeks, they will hold a series of talks, workshops, exhibitions and forums with Malaysian students, at various universities.

They hope to increase awareness of Malaysian human rights, current affairs and speak about the alternative youth counter culture in Malaysia.

 

Group's performance schedule

Members of Teater Bukan Teater are young students and activists working and studying in KL. Adam Adli, the student activist who was suspended from university, for lowering Najib’s flag, two years ago, is also part of this group.

 

The troupe will also perform the play, “Bilik Sulit” (The Secret Chamber), about the torture and police interrogation of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees. It is based on the true testimonials of the people who were previously detained under the ISA.

 

All these events are part of the “Uno Malaysia – political and cultural exhibition” organised by Kesatuan Penuntut Undang-Undang Malaysia  di United Kingdom dan Eire (KPUM or the Malaysian Law Students Union) and Suaram. Full details

 

 The activists have already had constructive talks with students from the London School of Economics (LSE), and the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

Over the following weeks, they will travel up to Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield, before returning to London for more creative events.

The idea is to engage the Malaysian students in UK and groom them for positive change in Malaysia.

 It is as Hisham said, change is in our hands.