MALAYSIANSKINI | When asked about his dreams for the future, actor and artist Ali Alasri explains how he imagines himself starting a school for creative thinkers and the displaced - which he describes as a space of refuge.

“I enjoy teaching. I finished (my diploma) at Sunway (University). I appreciated that, and I came back and taught at Sunway as a part-time lecturer.

“Even engaging in my research and having my sample participants is a constant learning process!

“I want to have a space that allows for that culture lah,” he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview.

Born into a family of four, Ali (above) had always been drawn to making art.

As a child, this took the form of scribbling on school desks to get reactions from his teachers....