Time Constraints Do Not Dampen Media Practitioners’ Passion For Pantun

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- Tight schedules and limited time for preparation and rehearsals did not stop media practitioners taking part in the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival 2026 from giving their full commitment in support of efforts to uphold the Malay language through the art of pantun.

Sinar Harian journalist Aisyah Basaruddin said her team had little time to prepare due to demanding work commitments, but was pleased with its performance.

She said participation in the competition was not solely about winning, but also provided an opportunity for media practitioners to strengthen ties and showcase a creative side of journalists that is rarely seen by the public.

“The programme gives us a chance to reconnect with fellow media practitioners in a more relaxed setting, away from the daily demands of the newsroom. It shows that journalists are not only skilled at writing and delivering news, but also possess creativity and talent in the art of pantun,” she told Bernama.

Aisyah also praised the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) for consistently organising the annual festival, noting that this year’s event at Kompleks Kraf, featuring a larger stage and strong audience turnout, had boosted participants’ confidence.

She said her team began preparing more than a month in advance, although opportunities for face-to-face rehearsals were limited due to work commitments.

“This year’s theme of journalism and technology required us to understand current issues before translating them into pantun.

“We used the internet and tools such as ChatGPT to generate ideas, but the rhyme, imagery and structure were still discussed as a team to ensure the essence of traditional Malay pantun was preserved,” she said.

Meanwhile, Media Selangor head of corporate communications Mahadi Mohd Mustafa said his team, which was making its debut in the competition, faced similar challenges as most members held key positions within the organisation.

He said that despite rehearsing for only about two hours a day over two weeks, the team remained committed to delivering its best performance in support of the programme organised by Bernama in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).

“At the same time, we wanted to introduce the Media Selangor brand. Winning or losing was secondary, what mattered most was being part of the event,” he said, adding that the competition had also given his team valuable exposure to techniques for delivering spontaneous and effective pantun.

Bernama Radio broadcast journalist Ahmad Irfan Che Mohd Ruzaidi said his team’s second appearance in the competition was more organised and systematic than last year.

He said the team underwent intensive training over one week, with every member fully committed to ensuring a smoother and more polished performance.

“We tried to prepare better than last year and, Alhamdulillah, we were able to improve many aspects, including our response strategy and how we divided ideas during the pantun exchanges,” he said.

The HAWANA-DBP 2026 Pantun Festival is the second event after the HAWANA Media Forum on Wednesday, leading up to the main HAWANA 2026 celebration in Penang on June 20.

-- BERNAMA