“Yasmin How You Know?” book launch in Singapore to commerate the third anniversary of Yasmin Ahmad’s passing

A book is to be launched this month to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of advertising legend and film director, Yasmin Ahmad. CausewayEXchange (CEX) Festival, a joint arts and cultural initiative between Singapore and Malaysia, will play host to the Singapore book launch of “Yasmin How You Know?”. The launch of the book at CEX will take place in Singapore on 25th August at The Arts House at the old parliament.

The book launch is part of Leo Burnett Group’s effort in remembering and honouring Yasmin who had been with the agency for 16 years, to remember the special person she is, how she has moved people’s emotions through her work and words and to continue imparting her legacy to others.

“Yasmin How You Know?” is available at Kinokuniya stores in Singapore. The sales of this book is also to aid Yasmin’s favorite charity organization, Mercy Malaysia, where all the profits from the sale of this book will be going to. Mercy Malaysia was founded by Yasmin’s good friend and mutual admirer, Dr. Jemilah Mahmood.

Since her death in 2009, many felt that she went without leaving any pesan- pesan (messages); the fact is that she had left plenty, with most of it living through people who knew her and worked with her. The launch of “How You Know?” was made possible by the support of  her family members, friends, colleagues and other people who personally knew her, all who carried a piece of her in them.

“I will always remember Yasmin for her ability to consistently produce relevant and meaningful work. She does it simply by observing what is happening around her and what she believes is needed by people. She is able to dig deep into her rich life experience and by injecting wit and charm into it to produce memorable work that inspires not only the industry but the entire nation, she takes the form of a leader, a mentor, a joker, a mother and an inspiration” Tan Kien Eng, CEO of Leo Burnett Group Malaysia said.

“The book shows merely the tip of the iceberg of the legacy that Yasmin has left behind for the world. Always referring to herself as the storyteller, Yasmin is also an incredibly generous person. Hopefully with this book, we help to share her stories with more people and in the meantime, raise more money for Mercy Malaysia, her favourite charity,” said Jarek Ziebinski, President, Leo Burnett Asia Pacific.

The book is a compilation of Yasmin’s apparent ridiculousness but which are actually gems of her wisdom and wit. Contributed by those close to her, some are written in present tense – because to them, she is still very much alive – just not in a physical sense. The anecdotes range from her time as a student through to the many phases of her life to her untimely passing. The book also reveals her as an accomplished poet with works on her inner thoughts and photographer with candid snapshots from her personal collection, as well as the last two TV commercial scripts by her.

The book launch at CEX will be followed by the big screen premier of her first telemovie, Rabun.