113 Strategic Partners Honoured For Support, Contribution To HAWANA 2026 Success
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- A total of 113 strategic partners of National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 were honoured in recognition of their cooperation and support in making this year’s celebration a success.
The recognition was presented during the HAWANA 2026 Strategic Partners’ Session, held at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel here today and officiated by Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching.
In her speech, Teo expressed appreciation to all strategic partners for their commitment and unwavering support in ensuring the success of HAWANA, which is now in its sixth edition.
“This ceremony reflects the ongoing synergy between the ministry and strategic partners, while the organisation of HAWANA demonstrates the MADANI Government’s commitment to recognising and appreciating the role and contributions of media practitioners in national development,” she said.
Also present were Ministry of Communications deputy secretary-general (Strategic Communications and Creative Industry) Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil and Penang deputy state secretary Ghopran Yeop Hamzah.
Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, who is also chairperson of the HAWANA 2026 Working Committee, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, Bernama deputy editor-in-chief (News Services) and HAWANA 2026 project director Mohd Shukri Ishak, and Bernama acting deputy editor-in-chief (Economic News Service) Harlina Samson were also in attendance.
Among the strategic partners of HAWANA 2026 are the Penang State Government, Monsta Studios Sdn Bhd, the National Farmers’ Organisation (NAFAS), J&T Express (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, the National Art Gallery, University of Cyberjaya, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) and Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB).
Other partners include the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA) and Poly-Tech Malaysia University (UPTM).
HAWANA 2026 also receives support from the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, Yayasan Peneraju, the Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM), KDEB Waste Management, CelcomDigi, MTD Properties, Johor Corporation and its group companies, Yayasan Insan Istimewa Selangor (YANIS), and Sunway University.
The HAWANA 2026 celebration will be held at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Arena Butterworth, Penang, from June 19 to 21, with the main event on June 20 to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
With the theme “Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility”, the celebration is expected to bring together around 1,000 participants, comprising local media practitioners and international media representatives.
In addition to strengthening journalism professionalism, HAWANA 2026 also serves as a strategic platform to empower the role of the media in facing an increasingly complex and challenging communication landscape.
Organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, HAWANA 2026 features various programmes, including the HAWANA Fun Walk on June 14, the Media Dinner with the Penang Governor on June 19, the HAWANA Exhibition on June 20, and the Mai RIUH@HAWANA programme from June 19 to 21.
Previously, the HAWANA Media Forum was held on May 7, followed by the HAWANA–DBP Pantun Festival on May 9.
Introduced in 2018, HAWANA recognises the contributions of journalists to national development, with May 29 chosen to commemorate the first publication of Utusan Melayu in 1939.
--BERNAMA
