Hishamuddin Rais

Hishamuddin Rais was born on Feb 03, 1951 in Malaysia. Hishamuddin Rais's big-screen debut came with Dari Jemapoh ke Manchestee directed by Hishamuddin Rais in 1998.

Finished his secondary education at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar. Entered University of Malaya to study South East Asian History in 1971. Active in campus politics. Elected Secretary General of now banned University of Malaya Students Union (UMSU) in 1973. Left Malaysia in 1974 after a huge student demonstration now historically known as The Baling Peasant Protest 1974. Studied French Language at University Catholic of Leuven la Neuve 1984. Studied Arts at Brixton College London. Graduated in film and video from University of Westminster London 1992. He returned to Malaysia in 1994 and became a freelance writer who was once again active in politics. He helped organise several street demonstrations from 1998 to 2000 following the ouster of deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. In 2001 he began a two-year jail sentence under the Internal Security Act, which permits detention without trial.