Lily Omar Finds Her Voice Through Manglish and Malaysian Culture

Name: Lily Syahira Binti Omar
Origin: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Places lived/worked: Ohio, USA; London, UK; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Pronouns: She/her

CV:

• Senior Digital Writer, Kingdom Digital, Malaysia (2023 - present)
• Mid-level Writer, PersonEDGE, Malaysia (2021 - 2023)
• Social Media Manager, Glampot, Malaysia (2018 - 2020)
• Intern, Kraken Interactive, Malaysia (2015)
   

1. How did you end up being a creative?

I wouldn’t say I was super creative when I was younger but I loved English, it was my best and favourite subject in school. But I would ask myself, did I really like the English language or was it because I was a white-washed Malay girl that couldn’t speak a speck of her native tongue even after coming back to her very own country?

Fast forward, my parents indoctrinated me into the Malaysian public education system, and I made Malay speaking friends. After that, “Dah boleh lek kot” (Can relax already). When my freelancer friends asked me to be their writer for a small social media pitch, I said yes. I actually liked it and figured out I loved seeing the ads on the streets so smartly written; I loved dramatising stories, and I loved being creative on social media. From then on, I only worked in creative agencies. I would always pitch myself that I’m a writer, my English is stronger than my Malay but my heart is of a Mak Cik kampung (village aunty).

2. What's your favourite piece of work in your portfolio?  

You probably know your barista's name, and your Grab driver has seen your house more times than your neighbour has. In fact, almost 1 million Malaysians don't talk to the people living right next door. That's why Paramount Property launched the 'Hidup Berjiran' campaign. We targeted hyperlocal audiences with challenges, stories and culturally relevant content that got people talking online. Literally.

By celebrating the wonderfully diverse (and sometimes wonderfully awkward) reality of Malaysian neighbourhoods, Paramount Property proved it's more than a property developer. It's The People's Developer, building stronger communities one neighbourly content at a time.

It may seem like just your average local community campaign but it was the first one that won me an award. And I still remember the client shouldering me and thanking me at the dinner. It is a sight to see when the energy you put out into a campaign also breeds relationships with the very clients you butt heads with.

3. What's your favourite piece of work created by someone else?

I’m a big fan of Yasmin Ahmad’s ads and movies but the piece of work that truly resonated with me was her life story, “Yasmin How You Know”. I was 17-years-old when I got a hold of this book. I was still unfamiliar with Malaysian media. I didn’t quite understand why at every turn people spoke in broken English.

One passage that stayed with me was when she wrote about Manglish and essentially said, “Why not? It’s what gives the conversation flavour.” So to say, people in nature are broken and how they speak makes them human. She had the capability of speaking “perfect” English but her Malay made her voice that much more authentic. It was that kind of thinking that inspires me time and time again.

4. What/who are your key creative influences?

Like I mentioned, Yasmin Ahmad is one. Other than her, I would say Korean media and more specifically Kwon Ji-young (G-dragon) from Big Bang. His music, designs, and projects inspire me to seek and learn more.

5. What's the craziest thing you've ever done?

Get married. Could you believe a non-traditional girl like me conforming into societal standards and traditions and having a MAN be part of my life, all for the sake of love? Insane.

6. What's on your bucket list?

I want to travel to see the Northern lights, study at Ohio University for my masters, and take my husband to watch an Arsenal game.

7. What advice would you give to 10-year-old you, if you could?

Keep doing your thing diva. We’re all going to die anyway, might as well become an absolute menace before it happens.

8. What really motivates you?

My husband and my cats, I would cease to have the will to live if anything were to happen to them. Knocks on all the wood available in the house.

9. How would your co-workers describe you?

They would describe me as harsh yet caring, honest, funny, confident, and lowkey crazy.

10. Do you have any secret or odd talents?

It’s not really a secret but I know how to dance. From hip hop and k-pop to traditional dances like joget and inang.

11. What’s your favourite TV show of the past year, and why?

Obsession, the buildup was slow at first, but I loved how a scary movie was able to tell the horrors we as women go through every day in such a nuanced manner. I don’t think many people would agree but it was lowkey funny at certain points.

Source: Campaign Asia-Pacific