Penang: The National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2026 grand finale is being celebrated at the PICCAArena Butterworth Convention Centre today, uniting about 1,000 local and foreign media practitioners. This significant event, themed 'Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility', will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at 3 pm.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the event will be attended by notable figures including Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow; Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil; Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah; Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai; and Bernama Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, alongside top management from local media organisations.
This year's HAWANA celebration also welcomes international media delegations such as Indonesia's Antara News Agency, Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Xinhua News Agency, the Indonesian Journalists Association, and the Malaysia-Indonesia Journalists Friendship Association (ISWAMI). During the event, the Prime Minister is expected to present the HAWANA Award and Special HAWANA Award to individuals with significant contributions to journalism and public mindset shaping. Contributions will also be made to the Tabung KasihHAWANA to support media veterans in need.
Adding to the festivities, the RIUH Pi HAWANA Carnival is being held for three days starting yesterday at the PICCA Convention Centre parking area. The carnival features performances by well-known local artistes such as Exists, Bunkface, Masdo, Sakura Band, Budak Nakal Hujung Simpang, and Chelsea Ng. It also showcases more than 24 local creative product brands, 20 food and beverage vendors, and various interactive workshops for visitors.
Earlier programs in conjunction with HAWANA 2026 included the HAWANA 2026 Media Forum on May 7, HAWANA 2026 Strategic Partners Engagement Event on June 4, and HAWANA 2026 Fun Walk on June 14, which saw encouraging participation from media practitioners and the public. Celebrated annually on May 29, HAWANA commemorates the publication of the first edition of the Utusan Melayu newspaper on May 29, 1939, and appreciates the contributions of media practitioners to nation-building.
Organised by the Ministry of Communications, with Bernama as the implementing agency, HAWANA serves as a platform to recognise the dedication and professionalism of media practitioners as conveyors of accurate, verified, and authoritative information to the public.