Sharing dream of Malaysia’s children in Petronas TVC

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SHARED DREAM: Picture shows one of the scenes in the ‘Children’ TVC. Though they are of different ethnic and socio-economic background but united by a common dream and guided by similar values and hopes.

KUALA LUMPUR: Defining Malaysians is not easy, given the richness and diversity of the nation’s many cultures and ethnic groups.

Yet, despite their differences, the people of Malaysia share similar affinity, cherish many common values and strive for the same dream and aspirations.

It is these special traits that bond Malaysians together that Petronas is celebrating in its Merdeka and Malaysia Day 2013 campaign.

As Malaysia gears for its 56th year of independence and its 50th anniversary as a nation, it stands proud as a relatively young but harmonious country where challenges and diligence are embraced in the efforts to achieve shared dreams and vision.

This tenacious Malaysian characteristic is the theme of Petronas’ Merdeka and Malaysia Day 2013 campaign.

“Our campaign this year is about celebrating the similarities that make us uniquely Malaysian. On the surface we may all see each other as different; but in the larger scheme of things, our hopes, dreams and aspirations are the same,” said Petronas Senior General Manager, Group Corporate Affairs, Dato Mohammad Medan Abdullah.

The campaign includes, among others, a television commercial (TVC) and a series of activities to engage with and instill the feeling of national pride among young Malaysians.

Petronas’ Merdeka and Malaysia Day Campaign’s TVC, entitled ‘Children’, follows the lives of four individuals of different ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds – a postman, a farmer, a sundry shopkeeper and a rattan gatherer – in the successive phase of their lives, united by a common dream and guided by similar values and hopes.

“The values that we share such as unity, harmony, mutual respect and tolerance are at the core of every Malaysian’s consciousness and define who we are collectively as a nation, despite our diverse backgrounds and origins,” added Dato Medan.

Complementing the TVC is the ‘Project #tanahairku’ that encompasses on-the-ground activities inspired by the poem (similarly titled) written by Malaysian National Poet Laureate, the late Datuk Usman Awang.

For the 50th Malaysia Day, Petronas has also created a special two-part webisode shot in Sabah and Sarawak which captures the hopes and dreams of East Malaysians while documenting the rich cultural and ethnic backgrounds against the backdrop of the annual Kaamatan and Gawai festivals.

The “Children” TVC, together with its longer web film version, as well as the webisodes, can be viewed on the official Petronas YouTube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/PETRONASOfficial

As part of its Merdeka and Malaysia Day 2013 campaign celebrations, Petronas is also distributing a limited edition environment-friendly nylon bags at its selected service stations nationwide between Aug 31 and Sept 16.