Television station TV3 has clinched back-to-back victories at the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival, reasserting its dominance in the competitive pantun recitation arena. The broadcaster's championship-winning squad, composed of Mohammad Nor Affiq Norshamsudin, Mohd Safwan Sawi, Azrin Md Isa, and Mohamed Hirsham Azmi, successfully defended the title originally claimed during the competition's inaugural outing just a year prior. The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) captured the runner-up position, underlining the intensifying rivalry between Malaysia's media organisations in celebrating the traditional Malay art form.

The prestige surrounding the event was amplified considerably by the presence of high-ranking government officials at the awards ceremony. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim personally presented the prizes at the HAWANA 2026 main event, which unfolded at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Butterworth Arena. The occasion drew further prominence through the attendance of Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, signalling the significance accorded to the festival within Malaysia's media and cultural landscape.

TV3's triumph came with substantial recognition and financial reward. The victorious team secured RM3,000 in prize money alongside a trophy and participation certificates, cementing the material value of their achievement. Bernama's respectable runner-up finish brought the organisation RM2,000 in cash along with its own trophy and certificates. Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) rounded out the podium in third position, with the print publication Berita Harian finishing fourth among the eight teams that participated in the competitive segment. The breadth of participating organisations underscored the cross-media appeal of pantun performance within Malaysia's professional journalism community.

Beyond the team competition, the festival recognised individual excellence through specialised awards. Muhammad Syukri Khairulannuar, representing Bernama, earned the distinction of Best Pantun Performer, acknowledging his outstanding recitation abilities and command of the traditional poetic form. Separately, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) contingent captured the Best Attire Award, reflecting the festival's comprehensive evaluation of participants across multiple dimensions of performance and presentation. These accolades demonstrated that the competition extended beyond mere pantun proficiency to encompass cultural authenticity and aesthetic presentation.

The festival itself drew participation from a substantial cohort of professionals. A total of 32 participants competed across the various competing teams, indicating robust engagement from Malaysia's media sector. The competition rounds took place at Panggung Sari within Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur on May 9, positioning the pantun festival as an important precursor event for the broader HAWANA 2026 celebrations. By situating the pantun competition as a curtain-raiser to National Journalists' Day, organisers signalled the cultural significance of traditional Malaysian arts within contemporary media practice and professional identity.

TV3's team leader Mohammad Nor Affiq expressed considerable emotion regarding the successful defence of their championship status. Reflecting on the journey, he acknowledged the initial weight of responsibility that accompanied leading his team into a competitive environment where expectations had been elevated by their previous victory. The turning point in his mindset came through mentorship and encouragement from Ahmad Fedtri Yahya, a respected TV3 presenter whose guidance proved instrumental in fortifying the team's resolve. This personal dimension illustrated how institutional support and interpersonal relationships within media organisations contribute to sustained competitive excellence.

In his remarks, Mohammad Nor Affiq articulated gratitude extending far beyond his immediate team members. He acknowledged the indispensable contributions of his teammates, whose collaborative effort and shared commitment produced the championship outcome. His appreciation extended to family members who provided emotional and logistical support throughout the preparation and competition phases, recognising that media professionals' achievements frequently depend upon personal networks extending beyond workplace boundaries. He also highlighted the role of supporters whose consistent encouragement sustained team morale and motivation through what he characterised as significant exertion.

Bernama's team leader Muhammad Syukri adopted a constructively competitive posture toward the runner-up finish, framing the result as motivational fuel for future campaigns. Rather than accepting second place as a final outcome, he positioned the current competition as a learning opportunity through which specific weaknesses could be identified and systematically addressed. His commitment to comprehensive review processes suggested that Bernama intended to treat defeat as diagnostic information illuminating specific areas requiring enhancement in preparation, technique, or strategic approach. This analytical methodology reflected the professional approach increasingly common among Malaysian media organisations seeking continuous improvement across competitive domains.

Muhammad Syukri pledged intensified preparation for the next edition of the festival, signalling Bernama's determination to progress from runner-up to champion status. He acknowledged existing shortcomings without dwelling on them, instead pivoting toward constructive forward planning. His remarks invoked Islamic faith through the expression "Insya-Allah," incorporating spiritual dimension into professional aspiration and suggesting that Bernama's competitive pursuit remained integrated within broader ethical and faith-based worldviews. This integration of professional ambition with cultural and spiritual values reflected common patterns within Malaysia's institutional context.

The HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival operates within the broader framework of HAWANA 2026, the annual National Journalists' Day celebration organised by the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with Bernama as implementing agency. The overarching theme of "Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility" situates the pantun festival within contemporary discussions about journalistic professionalism, institutional trustworthiness, and the role of cultural authenticity in media credibility. By incorporating traditional Malaysian artistic forms into professional journalists' gatherings, the festival bridges historical cultural practice with modern institutional concerns about media legitimacy and public confidence.

The HAWANA grand finale functions as Malaysia's most comprehensive assembly of media practitioners, serving commemorative and recognition functions within the journalism profession. The event honours journalists' sustained contributions to nation-building processes and acknowledges the often-demanding work required to maintain professional standards in contemporary information environments. By featuring traditional pantun alongside formal recognition ceremonies, HAWANA celebrations implicitly suggest that journalistic credibility and institutional integrity connect to deeper cultural rootedness and authentic engagement with Malaysian heritage. The prominent government attendance at the awards ceremony underscored state-level recognition of journalism's foundational role in democratic governance and informed citizenship.