We are hiring: Driven 'automotive' marketing specialists.

It's going to be tough.  Automotive is a multi-billion industry in Malaysia.  Our GDP relies on this.  One screw up isn't one car sale down.  It sends a repercussion to hundreds or maybe even thousands of jobs being cut.  It's serious business because it involves 8.3 million lives (excluding motorcyclists and pedestrians).  So if you think we are anal about how this business is run and communicated, you are absolutely right. It only looks repetitive if you don't know how to hack it.  The game?  Is to keep repositioning your competitors with what you do.  One step if you're good.  Ten if you're great.

You'll be wanted for accountability - of everything that comes out from your kitchen.  Your pole position is meeting targets, the title on your card is secondary - let us make that clear.  You drive the brand and it drives you.  You are partners, like in any race - man and machine is one.  And let us repeat one more time, in case you missed the first line.  It's going to be tough.  On top of a challenging industry, is another.  We believe in innovating how brands are built by way of integration and collaboration.  We put scientific measures behind our intuitions and have extremely stringent expectations on our fellow brand builders whether from a creative, media or comms specialist aspect.  And most of all, we take pride in providing world-class service to our clients.  They win, we win.  If you can't agree to that equation, you may exit right now.

So if you have what it takes - the desire to not just race but win in the automotive business and you can demonstrate to us why you can do that, we want to meet you.  We're looking for automotive specialists, no longer an account management person or a strategic planning person or a whatever person who can do many things.  We don't care where you come from as long as you can deliver what's to come in the future.  You can be Jack of however many trades you like, there's only ONE thing that we care for you to master - the car business.

In terms of personality requirements, you will need resilience and energy to excel.  A strong character with an inclusive leadership to take the reign is not absolute but from our experience, is a trait will take you very far.

So if you know anything about races, you'd also know second place is the first loser.  Reach out to us now.

Media: Sex and The City 2 - The movie.

When will this ever end? Looks like this is one of the most influential series-movies of the decade. Why? Because it's targeted to women. With money. And power. And that seems like an ever going trend.

New Accord 2.0 VTi-L: The Perfectionist media launch.

Not long ago, the Accord 2.0 VTi-L in Taffeta White and full black leather seats was launched.

Today, we were at 'The Perfectionist' media launch held in One Utama Highstreet, rubbing shoulders with 6 acquired individuals whose ambitions and fail-proof spirits were captured through a showcase of fine art photography. The white Accord certainly has a certain sporty elegance to it (not that we're being biased or otherwise).

One of the questions posted by media was, "What was the meaning behind this 'Perfectionist' campaign and what has it got to do with the new Accord variant?". Aptly asked. And aptly replied by Go Suzuki, Assistant MD of Honda Malaysia - that it was about leveraging on the essence of Accord. A car driven to drive. Not just in the physical world but also the unseen world, which is your personal journey in achieving your goal and ambition. I think what HMSB is doing here is not just associating the Accord with a certain maxim. But also to understand the psychology of their customer base.

Essentially, as drivers become more mature in life, they also become more refined. Because of various social and psychological reasons and it's simply part of life. Gone are the days where a vehicle is something you ride on to get from point A to point B. As looney as it sounds, a car does carry more than 4 wheels with doors and seats and a steering wheel. A car today, is an extension of the driver. Who you are and who you want to be projected as, is as important as finding a car that does all the practical work. Of getting you around. Accord is a special brand in Honda's stable that projects itself as a true chaser of dreams. And I don't know anyone who, when it comes to their ambition, goal or focus or whatever you want to call it, isn't a perfectionist. Accord is not for those with stature. You want to show off, you get a 7-series. Accord is for those who never stop chasing their dream until it is perfected on terms defined by themselves. Never terms defined by others. So there. Faisal from Autocar Asean - I hope that answers your question ;)

The spirited essence of Accord captured.

Also, today was the sad announcement of the moving-on of Azman Idris, COO of HMSB for 15 months. Apparently, he will be embarking on a bigger role with DRB Hicom. Chevrolet perhaps? :)

Oh. And if you need the price or detailed specs, then click!

Malaysia media pulse.

Bought the Media Planning Guide Malaysia, 2009 yesterday (by the way, the typo errors are HORRENDOUS).

What I thought was rather interesting is, for every medium, the consumption spike comes from the RM2001-3000 HHI category. And the spike is usually a fairly visible difference compared to other income brackets.

Now, although the average household income in this country is approximately RM3,000 (which classifies anyone who belongs to that category as mid-income level), and Malaysia being the King of the Middle Way, it is understandable that those who fall under the RM2001-3000 category could be considered as the 'bulk' of the population. Hence, the spike. But is that true?

What is your hypothesis? What is your point of view?

Star versus Sun.

On the Malaysian single mother who abused her Indonesian maid.

Read in The Star, 10/07/09:
'She escaped from the employer's residence in Lanai Kiara Condominium in Mont Kiara with the help of a neighbour at 7.30am on Monday. "I used a steel rod to prise open the front grille and with the help of a neighbour, I took a taxi to the Indonesian Embassy."'

Read in The Sun, same day:
'She had escaped at 1am and hid in bushes until sunrise before seeking the help of a passing taxi driver who sent her to the embassy.'

So was it 1am or 7.30am? Was it the bushes or the neighbour? Was it prying or hiding? But we can definitely be sure of one thing. It was a taxi.

If the media is flawed, then who is responsible for the public actions taken based on inaccurate information? If something so 'seemingly' insignificant is overlooked, then what about bigger stories? What about political news? What about the actual state of our economy? Who do we listen to? So we no longer depend on one source of information but multiple ones. Because the MEDIA in this country is FLAWED. Who would police that? Who will rectify that?

Is Edison slut or stud?

First there was a huge public detestation and outcry. But after almost a month of floating photos around the internet, suddenly I'm feeling a change of wave in idolship. Edison Chen, overnight, pushed by the media has become some sort of a male hero. This is NOT my opinion, but I'm feeling public sentiments through opinions male acquaintances are forming and from various blogsites and forums.

In just the last couple of hours, Edison Chen has got news coverage on Bloomberg, Shanghai Daily, Reuters India, Radar Online New York, Boston Globe US, Electric News Paper Singapore, Washington Post US, Sydney Morning Herald Australia, and even CNET news which has nothing to do with entertainment news. Overnight, the media has pushed Edison Chen to become one of the most famous stars in all four corners of the world - are we shooting ourselves in the foot? While we are so concern about how this piece of news is affecting the young ones, yet it's propagated on all major newspapers in every major country possible? Are we also to be blamed if he is made a stud after all because we are in a way, responsible for creating headlines for him and his 'unfortunate' incident?

Something to think about. What role does media play when moral is no longer divided in black and white?