Malaysia Creativity Week

11 August 2003

Address by Tand Sri Dato' Professor Dr Lim Kok Wing as the Chairman of the Malaysian Creative Circle Awards 2003 At Launch Of Malaysia Creativity Week

At Limkokwing University

First of all, may I extend a warm welcome to all, especially the Deputy Minister of Information.

I want to thank him for taking time off to be with us this morning. I know he had a very good day yesterday and he is very happy today.

We are here to launch the Malaysia Creativity Week which is being held in conjunction with the 2003 Malaysian Creative Circle Awards which we refer to as MC2.

It is my pleasure to host this rather exciting event here on this campus of the Limkokwing University.

The Malaysian Creativity Week is an idea whose time has come, judging by the enthusiastic support and response that we have been receiving.

Almost 1,000 entries were received for judging, and this is better than most such competitions I have seen around the world.

For this, we must congratulate the Organising Chief, the man in turban who goes by the threatening name of Sledgehammer aka Harmandar Singh aka Ham aka I just

Mr Singh.

Two weeks ago, some of the best and best known international and local creative brains were here to join in the judging and selection of the best advertising work produced over the past one year in Malaysia.

We had Neil French, who is not a French at all but one of today's most respected advertising creative thinkers.

Along with him, we also had several notable personalities. They are:

Prasoon Joshi, National Creative Director of McCann-Erickson India and winner of two Golds at the Cannes Advertising Festival last month.

Craig Davis, Regional Executive Creative Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Asia and Africa.

Jim Aitchison, award winning creative director, now best selling author of advertising books and highly sought after speaker.

And Tay Guan Hin, Creative Director of Leo Burnett Singapore and Chairman of the Creative Circle Awards Singapore this year.

Among the Malaysian ad industry's big names who are here are:

Sonal Dabral, Managing Director and Executive Creative Director of Ogilvy & Mather Malaysia.

Jeff Orr, Regional Creative Director of Grey Worldwide.

SP Lee, Executive Creative Director of FCB Malaysia.

Paul Regan, Executive Creative Director of BBDO Malaysia.

Trevor Delaney, Creative Director of Lowe & Partners Malaysia.

Ted Lim, Executive Creative Director of Naga DDB Malalysia.

Dharma Somasundram, Creative Director of Bozell Malaysia.

Simon Beaumont, Creative Director of EURO RSCG Malaysia.

Anthony Wong, Creative Director of M&C Saatchi Malaysia.

Chris Howden, Executive Creative Director of TBWA Malaysia.

Thomas Low, Regional Creative Director of Publicis.

Some of these were people I have worked with and know well, some were people I had always wanted to meet, but all were exceptionally creative people - the best in Malaysia's advertising world.

Creative people of the advertising industry are the people who create the memorable commercials you see on your TV, the attention getting print ads you read in your newspapers, the catchy jingles you hear on your radio and the giant billboards you see along the highways.

The creative people…

What they do, actually add something to our lives. They make us think, they make us smile, or cry. They make us more aware of trends in business and lifestyle. Of course, they also make us go out to buy things we don't really need! They make us part with our money! Let's move on!

It is unfortunate that there are some in the industry who run their advertising business purely for a profit, and do not put in the effort to ensure a quality product.

People should better realise that advertising is not only business, but a reflection of the people of the country where it is produced. Highly creative and intelligent advertising says a lot for its country of origin in a very positive way.

A country which produces really smart advertising will be viewed as a country of smart, clever people. This is something we must never forget. Nothing should be just for a profit. It should always be for a good cause as well.

That is one of the reasons why the Malaysian Creativity Week is being inaugurated.

As well, we want to make people more aware of the fact that the advertising industry is a fairly sizeable one. Last year, it was estimated at 4 billion ringgit. It is a growing industry, which means it employs more people every year - as writers, designers, film directors and producers, musicians and song writers, managers, researchers, media planers, carpenters and set designers, hair designers, animators and so on.

And importantly, if not for advertising revenue, all our newspapers, television stations and radio stations will not be able to survive.

Apart from the display of the many print advertising for the whole of this week, some of Malaysia's and the world's best TV commercials will also be screened at intervals.

I hope this effort will be successful in further strengthening the industry which has lost some of its momentum of late because of the prevalent economic environment.

More importantly, I hope it will encourage more efforts to produce brilliant work, and more people to come into the industry.

It is my view that advertising in this country has not yet reached its peak. Far form it. And that is good. It means the opportunity to do our best work lies ahead! And it means more creative brains are needed to add push, power and passion to what is already in place. And this means the kids who are now going through college and university will easily find places in the industry which badly needs them for its own future.

I hope this Malaysia Creativity Week will mark the beginning of an annual event, and that it will grow to become an important date in the calendar of the ad industry.

In closing, may I thank YB Dato' Donald Lim, an old friend of mine (I am the older one, of course) for his presence and ready show of support.

I know the Deputy Minister is an ardent supporter of the advertising industry, and we can look forward to his guidance and assistance as we move forward.

Dato', we are grateful for your support and presence.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in welcoming YB Dato' Donald Lim to the rostrum.

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