MEDIA SELANGOR ENLIVEN THE HAWANA-DBP PANTUN FESTIVAL 2026

SHAH ALAM, 9 MAY 2026 – Media Selangor participated in the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival 2026, in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2026.

The competition, now entering its second edition, is organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA) in strategic partnership with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) as the main sponsor. Held at Panggung Sari, Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, May 9, the competition, themed “Journalism and Technology”, aimed to foster unity among Malaysian media practitioners through the heritage of traditional literature.

A total of eight teams from various media and government agencies took part in the competition including BERNAMA, RTM, JAKIM, Media Prima Berhad (TV3), Astro Audio News, Berita Harian, Sinar Harian, and Media Selangor.

This participation reflected Media Selangor’s continuous commitment in elevating the art of ‘pantun’ as a timeless Malay cultural heritage, besides strengthening relationships and fostering the spirit of togetherness among the national media practitioners. This participation is also believed to bolster Media Selangor’s branding and enhance its presence alongside leading national media organizations.

Four teams, which are BERNAMA, TV3, RTM, and Berita Harian have successfully advanced to the semi final stage. Berita Harian secured fourth place while RTM secured third place, with each taking home cash prizes of RM500 and RM1,000 respectively.

The final round witnessed a fierce competition between BERNAMA and TV3. However, the winners for champion and runner-up titles will be announced during the grand climax of the HAWANA celebration this June, with a grand prize of RM3,000 awaiting the champion. 

National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) is celebrated annually to honor the contributions of journalists and media practitioners to nation-building. The HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival is among the cultural initiatives that highlight the creativity and identity of media practitioners through the heritage of classical Malay literature.