HAWANA Platform To Keep Media Relevant, Strengthen Regional Ties

By Noorazlina Jindeh

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- The involvement of media practitioners from across ASEAN at this year's National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) is set to be a platform to ensure local media remain relevant and capable of fostering cooperation and co-existing with other media.

Sabah Journalists Association (SJA) president Mariah Doksil said HAWANA would provide an opportunity for agencies and journalists alike to share experiences and learn from each other, especially in the increasingly challenging world of journalism.

“This will help us face our biggest challenge in this digital age, especially concerning fake news,” she told Bernama recently.

Mariah also expressed hope that this year’s HAWANA would serve as a platform to discuss various issues affecting the media industry and refine them to ensure that journalists carry out their duties more effectively.

She said issues that needed consideration included disrupted salary payments due to reduced advertising revenue, as well as the need to strengthen media freedom and journalistic ethics.

Jesselton Times editor Newmond Tibin opined that the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council’s Founding Board should be realised in conjunction with this year’s HAWANA celebration, as it was time for the council to function as a legal entity following the passing of the Malaysian Media Council Bill 2024 in the Dewan Rakyat in February.

Newmond said journalists and media practitioners had long awaited the council’s formation, and if it materialised this June, it would be a meaningful gift to the nation’s media fraternity.

“HAWANA is the highest recognition and appreciation for media practitioners in this country, as they play a vital role in nation-building, unity, and public well-being,” he said.

He also proposed that the sixth edition of HAWANA be held in Sabah in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations in September next year, in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 which recognised the equal status of Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah at the time.

New Sabah News journalist Zacherlyn @ Noor Zafira Mohd Shafie expressed hope that all journalists would continue to uphold professional ethics and discipline under all circumstances.

She said the role of journalists may be perceived as minor or simple by those who do not fully understand the profession, but was is the responsibility of media practitioners to remain credible messengers of information.

“Of course, I would also like to see more young journalists entering the industry and achieving excellence in impactful and high-quality news reporting, particularly for the development of communities, the environment and promoting noble values to create a symbiotic ecosystem for all,” she said.

The HAWANA 2025 grand celebration will be held on June 14 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), and officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The event is expected to be attended by around 1,000 media practitioners from both local and international organisations.

Organised by the Ministry of Communications with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) as the implementing agency, HAWANA will feature various events, including a pantun festival on May 31, a pre-launch with strategic partners at Wisma Bernama on June 3, and a media forum co-organised with the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) on June 14.

Also part of the celebration are the HAWANA carnival and exhibition at Sunway Putra Mall, running for three days from June 13, media sports featuring traditional elements, and a roadshow to premier polytechnics in Selangor, Perak, and Johor.

Since its inaugural edition in Kuala Lumpur in 2018, the HAWANA grand celebration has been held in Melaka (2022), Perak (2023) and Sarawak (2024).

-- BERNAMA