BUTTERWORTH, June 20 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced an additional RM1 million allocation for the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA as part of the government's continued support for the welfare of media practitioners in the country.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, announced the allocation for this year while officiating the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026 main event here today.
“To date, 773 media practitioners nationwide have received assistance amounting to RM2.26 million.
“In view of this success and in the spirit of compassion and care, we are allocating an additional RM1 million to the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA for 2026,” he said.
Launched in conjunction with the HAWANA 2023 celebration, the Tabung Kasih@HAWANA was established to assist media practitioners and former media practitioners in need through financial aid, medical expenses, family welfare assistance and other forms of support.
Also attending the HAWANA 2026 main event at PICCA Convention Centre@Butterworth Arena were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Also present were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah and the ministry's deputy secretary-general (Strategic Communications and Creative Industry) Datuk Bahria Mohd Tamil.
Among those in attendance were Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Bernama chief executive officer and HAWANA 2026 Working Committee chairman Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, as well as senior management representatives of local media organisations and HAWANA 2026 strategic partners.
Held under the theme ‘Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility’, the HAWANA 2026 main event brought together more than 1,000 media practitioners from Malaysia and abroad, as well as delegates from Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Laos.
-- BERNAMA
