Bernama Radio Wins Two Awards At ASA 2026 Prelude

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) clinched two awards at the 2026 Seri Angkasa Award (ASA), with Bernama Radio winning the Best Radio Talk Show and Best Radio Magazine categories. 

Bernama Radio presenter Raifanabillah Zulkifli won the Best Radio Talk Show category for the programme titled ‘Mengubah Naratif Bunuh Diri’ (Changing the Narrative on Suicide), which aims to raise public awareness of mental health and suicide. 

Raifanabillah said the programme, which she produced and hosted with Arif Muhamad, was inspired by the case of an Indian influencer who died by suicide after facing backlash on social media. 

“Sometimes, when people say they want to take their own lives, they are called weak or do not pray, among other things. But there is actually another side to their struggles that we, as a society, need to understand,” she told reporters after receiving the award at the ASA 2026 Prelude ceremony here today. 

Meanwhile, Bernama Radio broadcast journalist Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan won the Best Radio Magazine category for her work, ‘Dirgahayu Tuanku: Daulat Memayungi Negara, Budi Mengakar’, which focused on the end of Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah’s reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and His Royal Highness’s return to Pahang. 

Nurliyana Farhah, who won the Best Radio Magazine category for the second time, said her victory was the result of Bernama Radio team’s collective effort in producing content that resonated with listeners. 

She said the win was particularly meaningful given that the category also featured competition from experienced radio broadcasters in the industry. 

The 37th edition of ASA, themed ‘Segalanya Bermula Di Sini’ (Everything Begins Here), received 1,106 nominations across the television, radio (421) and new media (74) categories. 

This year’s awards feature 40 categories for television, 17 for radio and three for new media, in addition to two special categories: the Special Jury Award and the Seri Angkasa Icon Award. 

The ASA 2026 grand finale will be held on Oct 24 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. 

Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, in congratulating the winners, said the awards not only celebrated victories but also recognised and honoured the best in the industry. 

-- BERNAMA