Television station TV3 has secured back-to-back victories in the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival, triumphing over a competitive field that included Malaysia's leading news organisations. The championship team comprised Mohammad Nor Affiq Norshamsudin, Mohd Safwan Sawi, Azrin Md Isa, and Mohamed Hirsham Azmi, delivering a dominant performance in this year's edition held as part of the broader National Journalists' Day 2026 celebrations centred on the theme of media integrity and credibility.

The competition itself took place on May 9 at Panggung Sari, Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur, attracting a total of 32 participants across eight competing teams from major Malaysian media organisations. The victory represents a significant achievement for TV3, underscoring the broadcaster's strength in celebrating traditional Malaysian literary forms within a competitive professional context. The championship demonstrated the continued relevance of pantun—the classical four-line Malay verse form—in contemporary media circles, where it serves both as cultural expression and as a measure of linguistic and performative skill.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim personally presented the prizes at the HAWANA 2026 main event held at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Butterworth Arena, lending considerable prestige to the occasion. The presence of Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai underscored the event's significance within Malaysia's media landscape and governance structure. This high-level attendance reflected recognition of journalists' roles in nation-building and the importance of preserving cultural traditions within modern professional frameworks.

TV3's victory secured RM3,000 in prize money alongside a trophy and participation certificates, cementing the broadcaster's position as a leader in this specialised competition. The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), which finished as runner-up, received RM2,000 in cash along with trophies and certificates. Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) claimed third place, while Berita Harian rounded out the top four finishers among the participating organisations, each demonstrating competitive capability in this distinctive form of cultural expression.

Beyond the team championship, individual accolades recognised outstanding performances. Muhammad Syukri Khairulannuar, representing Bernama, earned the Best Pantun Performer award, acknowledging excellence in delivery and composition. Meanwhile, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) team captured the Best Attire Award, reflecting the traditional cultural significance associated with formal presentation during pantun performances. These additional recognitions provided opportunities for media professionals to showcase diverse talents within the competitive framework.

Mohammad Nor Affiq, leading the victorious TV3 contingent, expressed profound gratitude for his team's ability to successfully retain the championship title for consecutive years. He acknowledged initially feeling the weight of responsibility that came with defending the title, but credited encouragement from TV3 host Ahmad Fedtri Yahya, his mentor, for providing inspiration to pursue the challenge with full commitment. This mentorship dynamic illustrates how competitive cultural activities can foster professional development and knowledge transfer within media organisations.

In his reflective remarks, Mohammad Nor Affiq attributed success to collective effort across multiple dimensions of support. He emphasised that team members' dedication, combined with encouragement from family members and supporters, created the environment necessary for defending the championship. His framing of victory around collective achievement rather than individual accomplishment reflected a cultural ethos often embedded within traditional Malaysian competitive contexts, where success belongs to extended networks of supporters and collaborators.

Bernama's team leader Muhammad Syukri adopted a forward-looking perspective on his organisation's runner-up finish, positioning the outcome as motivation rather than disappointment. He explicitly committed to systematic review processes, identifying specific weaknesses within their performance and mapping concrete improvements for future competitions. His statement revealed a structured approach to competitive development, involving analytical evaluation of shortcomings and strategic planning for the next edition of the festival.

Muhammad Syukri's commentary reflected broader patterns within Malaysian professional culture, where competitive outcomes drive continuous improvement rather than complacency. The emphasis on addressing identified deficiencies while maintaining commitment toward future championship aspirations demonstrated competitive maturity and realistic assessment of competitive dynamics. His invocation of Islamic blessing—"Insya-Allah"—in committing to future improvements underscored the integration of cultural and spiritual values within professional achievement frameworks.

The HAWANA 2026 festival itself functions as a significant gathering point for Malaysia's media community, organised by the Ministry of Communications in collaboration with Bernama as the primary implementing agency. The overarching theme of "Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility" positioned cultural activities like the pantun festival within broader conversations about journalism's role in nation-building and public trust. By celebrating traditional literary forms alongside modern journalism, the festival acknowledged multiple dimensions through which media professionals contribute to Malaysian society.

For readers across Southeast Asia, this competition illustrates how Malaysia's media organisations maintain engagement with classical cultural traditions while competing within contemporary professional contexts. The pantun festival demonstrates that regional media sectors can balance commercial operations and news gathering with celebration of indigenous cultural forms, potentially offering models for how other Southeast Asian countries might similarly honour traditional artistic expressions within modern institutional frameworks.

The tournament's format and execution also merit attention for how it integrates high-level political participation with grassroots media professional engagement. By having the Prime Minister present prizes and national ministers attend the event, Malaysia's government signalled recognition that journalists' professional development and cultural participation merit state-level support and visibility. This approach potentially strengthens professional identity and institutional respect for media workers within broader Malaysian society, an important consideration as regional media faces ongoing challenges regarding credibility and sustainability.