It has been on from at least 1978. It was then called the "6As". In 1995 this annual premier event was re-named the Kancil Awards, to attest to the pride in recognizing home-grown Malaysian creative excellence in advertising, and to further underscore the industry's endorsement of the highest standards of creativity bestowed on the best work produced by its own peers.

The Kancil Awards is acknowledged as Malaysia's largest, most prestigious advertising awards competition. Its importance is attested to by the active participation of the industry's creative leadership represented by creative heads who are award winners in their own right, here in Malaysia and at international creative shootouts.