KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- The HAWANA-DBP 2026 Pantun Festival returns for its second edition, drawing participation from eight teams representing government agencies and media organisations.
Held in conjunction with the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 celebration, the programme will feature teams from the Department of Broadcasting Malaysia (RTM), the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Media Prima Berhad (TV3), Astro Radio News, Berita Harian, Sinar Harian, Media Selangor and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).
HAWANA 2026 project director Mohd Shukri Ishak said the second edition, themed ‘Journalism and Technology’, reflects the evolving media landscape, particularly in integrating traditional elements such as pantun with the increasingly technology-driven nature of information dissemination.
“The theme provides an avenue for the creation of pantun that highlights the role and influence of technology in today’s media landscape,” he said.
The HAWANA-DBP 2026 Pantun Festival, organised by Bernama in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), will be held on May 9 at Panggung Sari, Craft Complex, Jalan Conlay here.
The programme is among the early events leading up to the main HAWANA 2026 celebration in June.
The champion will take home RM3,000 along with a trophy and certificate of participation, followed by the runner-up with RM2,000 and third place with RM1,000, each also receiving a trophy and certificate.
In addition to the Pantun Festival, HAWANA, organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, will feature a range of events including media forums, a Fun Walk, exhibitions and a sports carnival.
Now in its sixth edition since its introduction in 2018, HAWANA is an annual event that brings together media practitioners to recognise their role and contributions to national development.
Following its inaugural edition in Kuala Lumpur, the main celebration of HAWANA continued in Melaka in 2022, Perak (2023), Sarawak (2024) and Kuala Lumpur last year.
-- BERNAMA
