Former Malaysian 4As council members respond to yesterday’s 4As CEO’s media statement
Over the past two days an industry storm has eventuated at the highest level of the Malaysian advertising industry. It kicked off when Campaign Brief Asia carried a statement from four Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) council members concerning their resignations three days ago from the 4As board over governance concerns. Yesterday the CEO of the Malaysian 4As, Andrew Lee, responded to these concerns that were raised and issued his own statement clarifying his perspective as CEO. The four former council members – Irene Wong (MD Grey), Joyce Gan (Co-Founder Fishermen Integrated), Nizwani Shahar (CEO Havas) and Yee Hui Tsin (CEO TBWA) – have followed up with another public statement “to set the record straight” and to offer proposals to consider going forward. Their full statement is published below.
In light of the recent media statement by Mr. Andrew Lee, CEO of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As), we, the undersigned former Council Members who resigned on 28 March 2025, wish to set the record straight and correct several misrepresentations made to the public.
Our resignation was not a reactionary gesture, but a principled response to a sustained breakdown in governance, transparency, and due process. Below, we present a factual, chronological rebuttal — supported by meeting minutes, correspondence, and constitutional clauses — to clarify our position.
1. On Equal Candidate Briefings Ahead of BGM
Claim: All candidates for President and Vice President were given equal opportunity to present themselves before elections.
Fact: While the idea was minuted at the Council meeting on 3 March 2025 — with Dato’ Johnny Mun proposing five-minute presentations per candidate to the BGM floor — there was no formal structure or enforcement ensuring that all candidates had equal opportunity or exposure. All Council members who were nominees were dialling in virtually and when the recommendation was tabled, this was not translated to the ones not attending the meeting in person. If the two external Council members were advised individually, the same should have been done for all nominees. There is no equal platform.
2. On the Departure of Former CEO, Mr. Khairudin Rahim & Council Alignment On The Matter
Claim: Encik Khairudin refused to continue his service despite being paid until 30 June 2024 and the Acting President discussed with the Council on the matter during the April 2024 Council Meeting. Motion not to extend Encik Khairudin’s contract was subsequently approved by the Council.
Fact: Encik Khairudin’s contract, set to expire on 30 June 2024, was unilaterally terminated without Council input on 4 March 2024. This violates Clause 17(b) of the 4As Constitution, which requires Council approval for employment matters. Records on file indicate that Encik Khairudin did not want to overstay his welcome upon being informed by the Acting President and the Senior Advisor his contract will not be extended when it ends 30 June 2024.
He applied for and was officially granted an earlier exit for April 30, with pay up to June 30, by the Acting President. It is factually wrong to say ‘Khairudin had refused to continue his service’.
Khairudin Rahim, Former CEO of 4As Malaysia, said: “At the AGM held on 26 March 2024, I realised I had been misled. Council Members present only found out about my exit when the Acting President announced this news at the AGM. I realised they were not involved nor consulted.”
Furthermore, the claim that Council members were aligned is factually incorrect. Following the surprise announcement at the 26 March 2023 AGM, there are recorded documents citing the Council’s disapproval of the Acting President and Senior Advisor making a unilateral decision without Council approval, thereby breaching Clause 17(b) of the 4As Constitution.
References:
● Minutes of Meeting for 1 April 2024 Council Meeting
● Email of Encik Khairudin dated 30 April 2025 to address 4As Members and Council after stepping down as CEO of 4As
3. On the Role and Appointment of Senior Advisor
Claim: The President had proposed the Senior Advisor role at the beginning of his term to the Council and this was agreed by all parties.
Fact: There is no record of any such proposal in the minutes of Council meetings throughout the President’s tenure for his 2nd and 3rd terms. This was neither discussed nor deliberated.
If the role was intended as official, it should have been recorded, and it was not. In comparison, when Tan Sri Vincent Lee was honoured as 4As Life President in 2012, this was tabled at a Council Meeting and thereafter presented to all 4As Members for approval at an Annual General Meeting. We invite members to refer to Minutes of Meeting from 2023-2025 to note that no discussion was tabled for Dato Johnny Mun to be appointed as Senior Advisor.
Reference:
● No mention of such a proposal in Council minutes from 2023-2025.
4. On the Appointment of the Current CEO, Mr. Andrew Lee
Claim: Mr. Andrew Lee’s appointment as CEO followed due process and Council awareness.
Fact: At no point during the recent term was there a formal proposal minuted to appoint Mr. Andrew Lee as CEO. The role was not tabled for Council deliberation, nor was any resolution passed. There is no evidence of an official hiring process, Council vote, or mandate given.
While Lee had previously served the 4As as its president from April 2017 to September 2023 for three consecutive terms, his transition into the CEO role was informal, unratified, and undocumented — until it was retroactively accepted after it had already taken place. Once again, a unilateral decision without Council approval was made, thereby breaching Clause 17(b) of the 4As Constitution.
To benchmark precedence, Encik Khairudin was invited in 2015 by Dato Johnny Mun, the then President of 4As, to meet with the Council for an interview to ensure he is befitting the role of CEO. The decision to appoint Encik Khairudin thereafter was voted in by the Council and announced to 4As members.
This lack of transparency contradicts the Association’s own constitutional governance and professional standards expected of all agency leadership appointments.
Reference:
● Absence of any appointment motion or resolution in Council minutes.
● Email from Acting President informing Council Members of Andrew Lee’s appointment without Council discussion or interview.
5. On Proxy Voting Procedures
Claim: We requested proxy holders disclose their votes, thereby breaching confidentiality.
Fact: No such request was ever made. We advocated only for proxy givers to indicate their voting intention on the form — a common best practice to ensure election transparency, not to compromise confidentiality. This would have upheld the spirit of democratic integrity within the association. We are recommending that this is tabled during the next AGM/EGM so that the elections and Constitution can be revised accordingly.
CALL TO ACTION: RESTORING TRUST IN OUR INDUSTRY BODY
This is not merely about Council politics. It reflects a deeper systemic breakdown that threatens the credibility of the 4As as a professional and democratic body. The Association’s strength has always come from its integrity — not its hierarchy.
We therefore propose the following:
1. Independent Governance Audit
Commission a third-party legal and governance body to review all constitutional breaches since 2023.
2. Recommend changes to the Constitution and the election protocols.
Implement clearer, more secure protocols where proxy givers are empowered to state their preferences transparently. Especially on making it mandatory for those who choose to appoint a proxy, to specify who and the agency they wish to vote for instead of delegating this decision outright to the proxy holder. To announce how many proxy votes on voting day.
3. Reaffirm Council Oversight
Reinforce clauses ensuring Council, not individual office bearers, holds power over appointments and constitutional matters. Draft a Governance Charter that limits overreach and reinstates the Council’s role as a check-and-balance system.
4. Deliberate the need (or not) for the fixed role of “Senior Advisor”
If deemed needed to clearly state what the role is as compared to the role of a President, Vice President and a Council member.
5. Deliberate the need (or not) for a maximum 2 continuous terms for President and Vice President.
What is the gap period before being eligible to be a candidate again for these positions.
6. Deliberate the value (or not) of rotating “Organizing Chairpersons”
Applicable to all major 4As annual competitions amongst Council members, including but not limited to the Putra Brand/Aria Awards, Kancil Awards, Effie Awards.
With integrity,
Irene Wong, Joyce Gan, Nizwani Shahar and Yee Hui Tsin.
CB Asia: there have been several anonymous comments left on the two previous posts. Please remember only comments with full name and with an email address can be posted.