By Haidah Halid
GOMBAK, 15 May 2023: Over 60 Media Planning and Integrated Marketing Communication students from the Department of Communication, attended a workshop called “Mak Kata Jangan”: A Rasuah Busters’ Case Study Workshop. It was a case study presentation on an anti-corruption campaign from marketing communication legends Adjunct Professor Harmandar Singh (also known as Prof Ham) and Mr. Adi Satria on Wednesday (May 10).
During the session, Prof. Ham and Mr. Adi shared their knowledge and experience of over 40 years in the advertising industry. As former colleagues at McCann Erickson, the two recounted nostalgic tales whilst showcasing the kind of trials and tribulations individuals might face while working in the advertising industry.
The session was held in the Human Sciences Seminar Room and was organised by Media Planning and Integrated Marketing Communiucation students advised by Dr. Rizalawati Ismail and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aida Mokhtar in conjunction with the Communication Festival 2023.
It was organised in an effort to expose students to real-industry experts and their experience of producing campaigns. Alongside that, a 50-minute screening of top global advertisements was showcased which depicted how the advertising industry differs from country to country.
Furthermore, as a prominent figure in the national anti-corruption movement, Rasuah Busters, Prof. Ham provided a case study presentation of his most recent marketing communication campaign, called “Mak Kata Jangan”. He detailed the experience which led to the name and the idea of the campaign and stressed how ideas for the creative industry can transpire from anything.
After the case study presentation, a panel discussion and a Q&A session followed that was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aida Mokhtar. The session saw Prof Ham and Mr. Adi answering students’ concerns such as how to meet tight deadlines and how to overcome creative limitations. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aida suggested that advertising has to be creative within the parameters so as to influence audiences in the right way.
The session ended with a book signing of Prof. Ham’s book, the Rainmaker, is also known as Bomoh Hujan. The latter is the newly launched Malay version that was translated by Mr. Adi Satria.***