Hishamuddin Rais is back! The malaysiakini columnist will have his first article, after a two-year hiatus, published tomorrow in his column renamed 'Dotmai Kembali'.

The 'trendy rebel' - known for his trademark beret, scarf and sunglasses - was forced to take a protracted sabbatical from writing following his arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2001.

He was held under the security law, which provides for detention without trial, with five Keadilan leaders for allegedly plotting to topple the government through militant means, a charge they have vehemently denied.

Following this, the writer-cum-filmmaker, spent the next two years in the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak until the six were released this June.

"Two years (in prison) is a long time. Logically, its going to take a while for me to get back the feel (for writing), the 'pulse' of what is going on," he said responding to a question when contacted today.

Writing is not just about the communication of ideas, but also has to do with the feel of things, the political ambience of the times, he added.

"I don't even dare to write until I'm sure I can feel the pulse of what's going on. As yet, I still have to renew my contacts and to recoup that awareness (of politics) and what's going on."

Nothing has changed

Since 1999, Isham, as he is known to friends, has been a regular contributor to malaysiakini and his Malay-language column 'Dotmai' commanded a popular following, especially among students.

On renaming his column 'Dotmai Kembali', he said it indicated some sense of demarcation between the Hishamuddin before being released, and the Hishamuddin now.

However, he laughed off suggestions that detention had somehow slowed or tamed him.

"No, no, no. Nothing's changed. It's just going to take some time for me to get back into things.

"My computers need to be put back together. Yeah, that took some time," he said, adding that his computer was taken apart by his friends for safekeeping during his absence.

The 52-year-old writer is no stranger to controversy. As a student leader in the 70s, Hishamuddin was active in the campaign to alleviate poverty and on several occasions been at loggerheads with the authorities.

Facing arrest following the 1974 Air Molek and Banting demonstrations, he fled to Belgium where he was granted political asylum.

For the next 20 years he lived in exile, during which he delved into filming and even studied at the University of Westminster in England.

The filmmaker

His works include such short films such 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' (photo). The movie was also showcased in film festivals in Singapore as well as Rotterdam.

As a columnist, he has contributed to Dewan Budaya, Men's Review, Vox, and Berita Minggu.

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.