More Than Just A Venue, PICCA Goes The Extra Mile For HAWANA 2026 Guests

By Farhana Poniman

BUTTERWORTH, June 15 (Bernama) -- As National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 draws near, final preparations are in full swing at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Arena Butterworth to ensure the smooth staging of the country’s largest gathering of media practitioners.

From logistics, technical arrangements and security to food preparation and hospitality services, every detail is being carefully attended to in preparation for welcoming approximately 1,200 guests, including media practitioners, ASEAN delegates and official invitees, at the highlight of the celebration on June 20.

PICCA Convention Centre chief operating officer James Chang said preparations had begun two months ago through a series of site visits and coordination sessions with the HAWANA secretariat.

“We began our preparations early, including installation works, food tasting sessions, staff deployment, and the coordination of various technical requirements.

“As of now, preparations are about 75 per cent complete, with the remaining work involving the confirmation of the final layout as well as arrangements for welcoming delegates and media practitioners from both within the country and abroad,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama recently.

He said that the management has placed special emphasis on hospitality and service quality to ensure the best possible experience for all guests attending the event.

To ensure the smooth running of the programme, PICCA is also working closely with various agencies, including utility companies, local authorities, and the traffic police, to coordinate electricity supply, security measures, and traffic management.

Apart from the main HAWANA celebration, Chang said the RIUH Pi HAWANA Carnival, which will be held from June 19 to 21, is expected to be a major attraction, featuring more than 80 booths as well as a variety of side activities, including entertainment performances and concerts.

Regarding parking facilities, he said PICCA has provided approximately 2,000 on-site parking bays and another 1,000 spaces in the surrounding areas of the convention centre. He therefore advised members of the public to follow updates through official social media channels for information on programme schedules, parking locations, and attendance guidelines.

Commenting on the challenges of hosting HAWANA, Chang said the event carries its own significance as it involves the presence of international guests and media practitioners who play an important role in disseminating information to the public.

“HAWANA is a platform to recognise the contributions of journalists as the frontline in news dissemination. Therefore, we want to ensure that every aspect, including service, decoration, lighting, and sound systems, is of the highest standard as a gesture of appreciation to the media community,” he said.

In a related development, he noted that PICCA’s selection as the venue for HAWANA 2026 has also enhanced the convention centre’s profile as a destination for large-scale events in the country.

Furthermore, the hosting of this national event is expected to promote Butterworth as a growing business tourism and events destination in Penang.

Located near the North-South Expressway and the Penang Bridge, PICCA was fully completed in 2022 after its construction was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Covering an area of 17,828 square metres, the convention centre has hosted more than 50 events, including conferences, convocations, award ceremonies, concerts, and corporate dinners. Among its notable events are the national-level Quran Recitation and Memorisation Assembly 2023 and the Malaysia Day 2025 celebration.

The highlight of HAWANA 2026 on June 20 will see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officially inaugurate the event, which carries the theme ‘Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility.’

The theme reflects the media industry’s commitment to strengthening professionalism, integrity, and journalistic credibility while facing the challenges of an increasingly complex communications landscape.

-- BERNAMA