Sheih Kickdefella

Sheih or also fondly known amongst close friends and school mates as Udeeng and Ghoip, born in 1970 and this Kelantanese kampong boy received his early education in Sekolah Rendah Sultan Ismail (2) Kota Bharu, before joining Sekolah Menengah Sains Kelantan (now Sekolah Menengah Sains Tengku Faris Petra) in Pengkalan Chepa Kelantan in 1983. He also spent a short time in Sekolah Menengah Sultan Ismail Kota Bharu before being accepted to Sekolah Menengah Teknik Kuala Lumpur in 1986.

In 1988, Sheih returned to Kelantan to do his form sixth in Sultan Ismail College Kota Bharu. In 1990, he was accepted to pursue his first degree under the School of Communication in Universiti Sains Pulau Pinang. Sheih spent 4 years in Pulau Pinang where he majored in Film and Television and Performing Arts and graduated in 1994 with Bachelor in Communications (Hons).

In year 2000, Sheih was accepted to do his Master in Arts (M.A) in Film Studies in University of Nottingham and Master in Science (M.Sc) in European Cinema in University of Edinburgh but due to the lack of fund, he has to forgo the opportunity.

Sheih begins his 14 years spell in the film industry by directing an experimental filmLautan di Waktu Subuh, the 16mm, 5 minutes movie tailored from the poetry by Zaihasra. In 1993, Sheih moves from experimental genre to drama with political theme that soon became his trademark. Karamnya Bahtera Merdeka a.k.a The Cries of An independent Child (again shot in 16mm) was screened in Tokyo and nominated for best picture. This was followed by the award winning Potret Seorang Patriot (16mm), which won the best feature in 1994. Potret Seorang Patriot is a movie about a deposed President combating for freedom from the revolutionary regime.

In his early days as filmmaker, Sheih was strongly influenced by Costa Gavras and his ‘Z’

. In 1995, Sheih wrote Bicara Tentang Kita, a mini series based on the speculation regarding Mahathir-Anwar relationship and the power struggle in UMNO, which he then directed. Unfortunately, it was banned a year later. In 1999, Sheih was awarded the Best Story in The Malaysian Film Festival for his piece, Perempuan Melayu Terakhir. The Movie went on to win 5 other major awards and The Director, Puan Erma Fatima won recognition in Pyongyang for the film. Beginning year 2000, Sheih works on few less political subjects while concentrating in advancing his studies.

Sheih has toiled on more than 200 hrs of television series, feature film and non-fictional program. He also has written more than 40 scripts. Among his memorable works are television movies Earl Grey & Kopi Kampong, YB & Thuraya, Kuartet Merdeka and Neek Hardware & Muthu Schumacher. Sheih also add a 35mm feature film, Persona Non Gratato his credit in 2005, which won him the award for the Most Promising Director, a year later. The movie was then selected to represent Malaysia in the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Taipei in 2006.

In the same year, Sheih joined Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) where he tutored Television Production and Screenplay. He left UTAR in April 2007 to return to his hometown in Kelantan.

Sheih is married to Bariah Ishak, his course mate in university and they are blessed with three sons and a daughter.

On 20th August 2008, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, The Prime Minister of Malaysia accused Sheih as being evil for running the campaign on flying the Malaysian flag up side down as a mark of ‘Nation in Distress’ in protest of the political and economic turmoil faced by the people of Malaysia due to dreadful policy and unwarranted action taken by the Government and too much time spent on politics by the Malaysian Members of Parliament. The Prime Minister had called the Police to scrutinize Sheih’

s action, which followed by the statement by The Deputy Inspector General of Police announcing an investigation paper was opened to investigate Sheih under the Sedition Act.

However on 22nd August, Deputy Minister, Saifuddin Abdullah claimed that Sheih’

s action is not a sign of disrespect towards the National Flags according to the existing law and called for the lawmakers to push of a new law.

On 17th September 2008, The Malaysian Police used the Sedition Act 1948 Section 4(1) to arrest Sheih in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Sheih is alleged of instigating other bloggers and blog readers to fly the National Flag up side down as a mark of ‘Nation in Distress’. He spent a night in Kota Bharu District Police’s lockup.