KPKT Media Excellence Awards 2026: Bernama Wins Six Awards

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) won six awards across four contested categories at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Media Excellence Awards (AkeMedia) 2026 here tonight.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming presented the prizes to the winners at the ceremony.

Bernama photographer Mohd Zulfadhli Zulkarnain won the Best Photojournalism Award 2026, while Mohd Luqman Nurhakim Mohd Zubir and Mohd Hazrol Zainal took second and third places respectively in the same category.

The first-place winner received RM3,000, a trophy and a certificate, while the second- and third-place winners received RM2,000 and RM1,000 respectively, along with trophies and certificates.

Meanwhile, Feature and Strategic Writing Desk journalist Soon Li Wei won third place in the Best Social Media Content Award 2026.

Meanwhile, the pairing of Bernama Radio producer Nur Syazwani Bakhtiar Azam and presenter Naziana Md Nasir secured third place in the Best Radio Broadcasting Award 2026 for an interview programme titled Circular Economy: Waste is No Longer Trash.

Bernama TV journalist Dhiyaulhaq Hamzah and cameramen Nadzirah Yazid, Fazlil Hakimi Dzulkifli and Zaini Mohd Ithnin also won third place in the Best Video Broadcasting Award 2026 for their report titled Swadaya Kitar Semua - Sebuah Perjuangan (Community Recycling - A Struggle).

Earlier, Nga said the award was a tribute to media practitioners for delivering fair, balanced and fact-based coverage.

He said the mass media played an important role in national development by disseminating information to the public, connecting the government with the people and supporting economic growth.

"I understand the main challenge of journalism is no longer just getting the news, but ensuring every piece of information delivered is fast and accurate. The development of social media and artificial intelligence also accelerates the spread of authentic and false information, thereby making the role of journalists increasingly important," he said.

He said journalists were not just the first to deliver the news, but also played a role in checking and verifying information to ensure the public received accurate and clear reports free from manipulation and misinterpretation.

"In the pursuit of speed, high readership or viewership, the media must never compromise on integrity and journalistic ethics, which are far more important," he said.

In this regard, he said close cooperation between the media and the government was increasingly important, especially in building a more mature and responsible communication ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said the achievement reflected the agency's continued success in the awards, particularly its photography team, which won all three prizes contested in its category.

"Alhamdulillah, Bernama's participation in these awards has achieved much success. This is a very good achievement because every year Bernama's photos win awards in the KPKT competition," she added.

She said the achievement should also encourage Bernama staff to continue striving for excellence in other competitions.

-- BERNAMA