The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) has opened a commemorative photo exhibition in Butterworth that documents the evolution of the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) and showcases the human impact of its charitable arm, Tabung Kasih@HAWANA. The exhibition, unveiled ahead of the HAWANA 2026 Summit scheduled for tomorrow at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Arena Butterworth, provides a visual narrative spanning eight years of celebrations and the lives transformed through the fund's assistance programme.
According to Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, the gallery is structured in two complementary sections that together tell the broader story of how the media industry has mobilised to support its own. The first section traces HAWANA's development from its inception in 2018 through 2025, documenting the growth and reach of what has become an annual fixture in Malaysia's media calendar. The second section presents portraits and stories of individuals who have benefited from Tabung Kasih@HAWANA assistance, making tangible the fund's role in addressing the real challenges faced by journalists and media veterans.
Nur-ul Afida, who chairs the HAWANA 2026 Working Committee, emphasised that the exhibition serves a dual purpose beyond mere commemoration. It positions Bernama as the driving force behind both the secretariat operations and implementation of HAWANA, a role that typically operates outside the public spotlight. By bringing this work into the spotlight through the gallery, Bernama aims to demonstrate its commitment to the profession while acknowledging the collaborative spirit that defines the modern Malaysian media landscape. The exhibition reflects a recognition that journalism, often viewed as a solitary pursuit of truth, is fundamentally a collective endeavour requiring institutional support and solidarity.
The visibility granted through the exhibition carries particular significance for media professionals in Malaysia, where freelancers and independent journalists often operate without the safety nets available in larger organisations. Tabung Kasih@HAWANA addresses a gap in the industry's support infrastructure, providing financial assistance to journalists and media veterans confronting serious health challenges or acute financial distress. By documenting these stories visually, the exhibition normalises conversation around professional vulnerabilities and positions mutual aid as integral to journalism's continued vitality.
Mohamad Bakri Darus, editor of the Bernama Photo Desk, underscored the curatorial approach taken in assembling the exhibition. Each photograph has been selected with care and paired with bilingual captions in both Malay and English, ensuring accessibility for the diverse audience expected at the summit. This attention to presentation reflects an understanding that archives and exhibitions function not merely as historical records but as pedagogical tools, helping both veteran journalists and emerging professionals comprehend the profession's institutional memory and values.
The exhibition traces HAWANA's geographical and institutional expansion across Malaysia, documenting celebrations held in Kuala Lumpur in both 2018 and 2025, followed by venues in Melaka in 2022, Ipoh, Perak in 2023, and Kuching, Sarawak in 2024. This expansion mirrors the decentralisation of media discourse in Malaysia and reflects efforts to ensure that the celebration and its benefits reach journalists working outside the capital. Each location has hosted a range of programming designed to foster professional development and industry camaraderie, including strategic partner meetings, media forums, the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival celebrating traditional poetry, carnivals and exhibitions, and sporting events.
The programming elements showcased in the exhibition reveal HAWANA's multifaceted approach to engaging the media community. Rather than treating the celebration as a single ceremonial event, organisers have constructed a framework accommodating professional discourse, cultural celebration, and recreational activities. This breadth reflects an understanding that industry solidarity requires opportunities for learning, creative expression, and informal connection beyond the formal conference environment. The inclusion of a pantun festival, in particular, bridges contemporary journalism with traditional Malaysian literary forms, embedding media celebration within broader cultural contexts.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will officiate the HAWANA 2026 Summit tomorrow, lending governmental endorsement to an initiative recognising journalism's essential role in Malaysian society. The prime ministerial presence underscores how national leadership has increasingly acknowledged the profession's challenges and the importance of institutional mechanisms supporting media practitioners. For a region where press freedom and journalist safety remain contested issues, such recognition carries symbolic weight beyond ceremonial protocol.
For Malaysian readers and media professionals, the exhibition offers both retrospective and prospective value. Retrospectively, it validates HAWANA as a substantive institutional response to industry needs rather than mere celebratory pageantry. Prospectively, it signals the profession's commitment to self-support and mutual obligation, qualities essential for journalism's long-term sustainability. As the media landscape evolves amid technological disruption and shifting economic models, mechanisms like Tabung Kasih@HAWANA become increasingly vital for retaining experienced journalists and sustaining professional standards.
