Sun wins Media Partner of Year at Kancil Awards

theSun was named the Media Partner of the Year for providing the most innovative and creative execution avenues for agencies and advertisers at the annual Kancil Awards, the premier event of the advertising agency industry.

Ho Kay Tat, group managing director/editor-in-chief of The Edge/theSun, said the award was an important recognition by the industry that theSun is an effective and innovative media for marketers.

“We have worked closely with agencies and their clients to push the boundary with creative ads that have never been done before locally to make their advertising campaigns stand out,” he said. “So the award is also a recognition of their role in raising the bar for creative excellence.”

At the awards organised by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As), McCann-Erickson won the top award – the Golden Kancil Award.

McCann-Erickson was declared the overall winner after grabbing two gold, eight silver and 15 bronze medals. The two gold awards were for its Sony Playstation 2 “Maze” advertisement in the poster and art direction categories.

Industry veteran and Adoi publisher Harmandar Singh or popularly known as Ham won the Chairman’s Award, which was introduced this year to recognise an individual who has contributed significantly to raising the level of creative advertising excellence.

Naga DDB Sdn Bhd was named Agency of the Year for having the most number of wins in eight international and local advertising events, including the Kancil Awards, Asian Advertising Awards, AdFest, Clio, Cannes, One Show, D&AD and MC2.

UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd was honoured with the Kancil Advertiser of the Year award.

Leo Burnett Advertising Sdn Bhd won 24 medals (13 silvers, 11 bronzes); Naga DDB 15 medals (one gold, five silvers and nine bronzes); Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Sdn Bhd 14 medals (two golds, six silvers, six bronzes) and Young & Rubicam Sdn Bhd seven medals (one gold, two silvers, four bronzes).

The winners received their awards at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 18.

President of 4As, Datuk Vincent Lee, said the Kancil Awards was a key demonstration of the association realising its vision for the RM4.4 billion advertising industry as an engine of growth for the country.

"Awarding recognition and honour to creative excellence will continue to drive the industry towards knowledge excellence, something that is necessary if Malaysia's advertising industry is to be on par with global advertising standards," he said.

The panel of judges comprised six local and five international judges and was led by Naga DDB Malaysia executive creative director Ted Lim.

This year, fewer gold awards - with only six gold medals - were given out due to the higher standards set by the panel. It received 1,320 entries for more than 80 categories, compared with 1,800 entries last year.

President of 4As Datuk Vincent Lee	Harmandar Singh receiving the Chairman's Award from Datuk Vincent Lee

Group managing director/editor-in-chief of The Edge/theSun Ho Kay Tat congratulating Harmandar Singh	Datuk Vincent Lee (right) presenting the "Young Creative Award" to Primus Nair of Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Sdn Bhd

The crowd at the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents (4As) Kancil Awards 2005 ceremony	From left: MD of Naga DDB Alan Lim, Business Development & Corporation Director Shery Lim and executice creative director Ted Lim with their Agency of the Year award

Golden Kancil Award winner McCann Erikson's MD Tony Savarimuthu celebrating after receiving his award from the GM of TV3 Navonil Roy	Group managing director/editor-in-chief of The Edge/theSun Ho Kay Tat with his team after receiving the Media Partner award