Butterworth: The National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2026 Working Committee has been carrying out final preparations at the PICCA@Arena Butterworth Convention Centre here over the past three days ahead of tomorrow's summit.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bernama chief executive officer and HAWANA 2026 Working Committee chairman Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin stated that preparations had reached 80 percent completion, with several rehearsal sessions conducted to ensure the smooth running of the event. The decision to host the event in Penang considered logistical challenges, including accommodation and transportation arrangements.

"Therefore, we carried out very detailed planning and received cooperation from several accommodation providers in the state to assist not only our team but also media personnel attending the event," Nur-ul Afida said after inspecting preparations for the summit today. She noted that the change in venue might affect attendance compared to previous editions held in Kuala Lumpur due to work commitments, time constraints, and other responsibilities.

Several side events organised by the Malaysian Media Council, the Federation of Malaysian Media Clubs (GKMM), and the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) are scheduled to be held in conjunction with HAWANA 2026. The summit, themed 'Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility', is set to be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at 3 pm tomorrow.

The event is expected to bring together about 1,000 media practitioners from Malaysia and abroad, serving as a strategic platform to generate fresh ideas and chart the direction of contemporary journalism. Organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, HAWANA is the country's premier platform recognising the contributions, dedication, and professionalism of media practitioners in Malaysia.