Kuala lumpur: Tight schedules and limited time for preparation and rehearsals did not stop media practitioners taking part in the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival 2026 from giving their full commitment in support of efforts to uphold the Malay language through the art of pantun.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sinar Harian journalist Aisyah Basaruddin said her team had little time to prepare due to demanding work commitments, but was pleased with its performance. She emphasized that participation in the competition was not solely about winning, but also provided an opportunity for media practitioners to strengthen ties and showcase a creative side of journalists that is rarely seen by the public.
Aisyah highlighted that the programme allowed journalists to reconnect with fellow media practitioners in a more relaxed setting, away from the daily demands of the newsroom. It demonstrated that journalists are not only skilled at writing and delivering news, but also possess creativity and talent in the art of pantun. She praised the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) for consistently organising the annual festival, noting that this year's event at Kompleks Kraf, featuring a larger stage and strong audience turnout, had boosted participants' confidence.
She mentioned that her team began preparing more than a month in advance, although opportunities for face-to-face rehearsals were limited due to work commitments. Aisyah noted that this year's theme of journalism and technology required them to understand current issues before translating them into pantun. They utilized internet resources and tools like ChatGPT to generate ideas, ensuring that the rhyme, imagery, and structure were still discussed as a team to preserve the essence of traditional Malay pantun.
Meanwhile, Media Selangor head of corporate communications Mahadi Mohd Mustafa said his team, debuting in the competition, faced similar challenges as most members held key positions within the organisation. Despite rehearsing for only about two hours a day over two weeks, the team remained committed to delivering its best performance in support of the programme organised by Bernama in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP). Mahadi added that introducing the Media Selangor brand was a priority, and the competition provided valuable exposure to techniques for delivering spontaneous and effective pantun.
Bernama Radio broadcast journalist Ahmad Irfan Che Mohd Ruzaidi noted that his team's second appearance in the competition was more organised and systematic than the previous year. The team underwent intensive training over one week, with every member fully committed to ensuring a smoother and more polished performance. Ahmad Irfan expressed satisfaction with the improvements made, including their response strategy and the division of ideas during the pantun exchanges.
The HAWANA-DBP 2026 Pantun Festival is the second event following the HAWANA Media Forum on Wednesday, leading up to the main HAWANA 2026 celebration in Penang on June 20.