Kuala Lumpur: In line with Malaysia's role as ASEAN Chair this year, the fifth edition of National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025 will serve as an ideal platform to enhance collaboration and foster stronger ties between local media practitioners and their counterparts across the region. Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who is also HAWANA 2025 Project Director, stated that media practitioners from all ASEAN member countries have been invited to participate in the celebration, which will be held on June 14 in the capital.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, invitations have also been extended to media practitioners from China, Japan, and South Korea. Arul Rajoo emphasized that although the HAWANA celebration is primarily local in nature, inviting media partners from ASEAN countries to participate in the forum sessions and the main celebration on June 14 represents an opportunity to expand networks of collaboration. He noted that the media can no longer operate in isolation within their own countries and need to engage in exchanges with industry players from other countries, particularly those advanced in technology and artificial intelligence.
Elaborating on the HAWANA 2025 celebration at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur, which is scheduled to be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Arul Rajoo said that Bernama is the implementing agency and is actively making final preparations for the event. He explained that several states had expressed interest in hosting the event, indicating growing attention towards HAWANA. However, due to time constraints and Bernama's role as the official media and coordinator for the ASEAN International Media Centre, it was deemed more appropriate to hold it in Kuala Lumpur.
Arul Rajoo also highlighted that the HAWANA 2025 celebration will feature a carnival running from June 13 to 15 at Sunway Putra Mall, with nearly 20 stalls set up by local media organizations. These stalls will offer the public an opportunity to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of media practitioners, which they have only experienced through television, radio, and newspapers.
In addition to the carnival, the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival 2025, recently held at Wisma Bernama, and the HAWANA Games scheduled for September, featuring activities such as football, bowling, netball, and traditional games, are part of the celebration's lineup. On the morning of June 14, a media forum involving industry players and university students will discuss current journalism trends, and the pro tem committee of the Malaysian Media Council will share their views on the media industry's future direction.
Touching on the KasihHAWANA Fund, Arul Rajoo mentioned that 350 media practitioners, comprising those still working and retirees, have benefited from the initiative.