Kota bharu: The Malaysian National News Agency's (Bernama) Kelantan Bureau secured five awards at the Kelantan Media Awards 2025 ceremony, held in conjunction with the State-level National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) celebration.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the accolades were highlighted by Muhammad Mustaqim Khairuddin, who triumphed in the Best News Photography category, earning a cash prize of RM1,000 for his entry titled "Saving Cows in the Flood." Additionally, Muhammad Afiq Mohd Asri claimed second place in the Best Malay Language Newspaper Special Report category, receiving RM700 for his work "Kelantan-Thailand Border: Internal Threats, Geographical Challenges, and Maritime Power Demands."
Muhammad Afiq, who also serves as the Bernama Kelantan Bureau Chief, achieved another second-place finish in the Best Malay Language Newspaper News category, earning an additional RM700 with his article "Stroke Not the End of the World - Azli Rises Again with PERKESO RTW (Return to Work)." Furthermore, his colleague, Habsah Ismail, secured third place in the same category, winning RM300 for her entry "Prosthetic Eyes: HPUSM Restores Confidence in Patients with Eye Loss."
In the Best TV News category, Ahmad Faris Abdul Halim earned third place and RM300 with his presentation titled "Millions of Ringgit Worth of Yaba Pills Hidden in Cow Dung, Six Locals Detained." These awards underscore the competence of Bernama staff to thrive in a competitive media landscape while upholding professional journalistic standards and integrity.
The awards were conferred by Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud during the event, which saw attendance from media practitioners across various print, electronic, and digital platforms in the state. In his address, Mohd Nassuruddin emphasized the role of journalists as not only conveyors of information but also as strategic partners to the government and society in fostering mutual understanding and common well-being. He remarked that journalists serve as witnesses to history, capturing significant events for future generations to reference.