Television station TV3 has successfully defended its championship title in the HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival, cementing its position as a dominant force in the traditional Malaysian art form's competitive landscape. The victory was announced at the main HAWANA 2026 event held at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Butterworth Arena in Penang, where Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim presented the awards to the winning teams. The occasion underscored the government's commitment to recognising media excellence and the preservation of Malaysia's cultural heritage through journalism celebrations.

TV3's winning squad comprised Mohammad Nor Affiq Norshamsudin, Mohd Safwan Sawi, Azrin Md Isa, and Mohamed Hirsham Azmi, who demonstrated exceptional skill in the competitive pantun recitation format. The team's back-to-back victories represent a significant achievement in what remains a niche but culturally significant competition within Malaysia's media industry. By retaining the title from the inaugural edition held the previous year, TV3 has established itself as the reference point for excellence in this particular intersection of journalism and traditional Malay literary arts.

The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) secured the runner-up position, reflecting the strong competitive standard across Malaysia's major media organisations. Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) finished third while Berita Harian took fourth place among the eight participating teams. This competitive structure demonstrates the widespread interest among Malaysian media outlets in engaging with cultural activities that celebrate both journalistic practice and the nation's literary traditions. The pantun festival has evidently gained traction as a meaningful dimension of the media profession's annual calendar.

Prize distribution reflected the competitive standings, with TV3 receiving RM3,000 in cash alongside a trophy and certificates, while Bernama claimed RM2,000 in cash and similar recognition. The financial incentives, whilst modest, signal institutional support for cultural programming within the media sector. Additional recognition came through individual awards, with Bernama's Muhammad Syukri Khairulannuar earning the Best Pantun Performer accolade, acknowledging exceptional vocal delivery and artistic interpretation. The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) team separately garnered the Best Attire Award, suggesting that competitive standards extended beyond recitation technique to encompass cultural presentation.

The broader HAWANA 2026 celebration, themed "Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility," reflects contemporary concerns about journalistic standards in an era of information fragmentation. Organised by the Ministry of Communications with Bernama as the implementing agency, the festival functions as Malaysia's premier gathering for media practitioners seeking recognition and professional development. The event's emphasis on integrity speaks to heightened public scrutiny of media performance and the profession's desire to reassert its role in nation-building at a time when trust in institutions faces testing pressures across the region.

The pantun competition itself served as a curtain-raiser for the main celebrations, with preliminary rounds held at Panggung Sari, Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur on May 9. The choice of venue—a traditional craft complex rather than a conventional media or corporate facility—deliberately positioned pantun within Malaysia's broader cultural ecosystem rather than solely within journalism frameworks. This geographic and symbolic grounding underscores how the competition bridges professional identity with national heritage preservation.

TV3's team leader Mohammad Nor Affiq acknowledged the weight of defending the championship, attributing his team's determination partly to mentorship from TV3 host Ahmad Fedtri Yahya. His remarks revealed the informal but meaningful support systems that sustain competitive excellence within media organisations, where experienced practitioners provide guidance to rising talent. Affiq's gratitude extended to teammates, family members, and supporters, framing the victory within broader ecosystems of encouragement rather than as individual achievement. This perspective highlights how cultural competitions within professional settings often function as morale-building exercises with significance beyond competitive outcomes.

Bernama's team leader Muhammad Syukri responded to the runner-up finish with measured determination, committing to systematic review of performance weaknesses ahead of the next edition. His statement indicated that the organisation views this competition as a recurring opportunity rather than a one-off event, with strategic implications for team preparation and competitive positioning. The comments suggest that major Malaysian news organisations increasingly view cultural competitions as legitimate arenas for institutional pride and organisational identity-building, alongside their core news gathering functions.

The presence of senior government figures—including Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai—underscores the political significance attributed to media profession celebrations. Such attendance validates journalism as a sector deserving governmental recognition and reinforces the pantun festival's position within formal commemoration of national professional traditions. For Malaysian media practitioners, the event represents an opportunity to secure official acknowledgment of their contributions to nation-building, a validation that extends beyond commercial or competitive considerations.

The HAWANA-DBP Pantun Festival occupies a distinctive niche within Malaysia's cultural landscape, merging traditional literary arts with contemporary professional identity. By establishing this competition as a recurring fixture within National Journalists' Day celebrations, Malaysia's media institutions have created a venue where preservation of cultural forms intersects with professional recognition. For television and news organisations competing at the national level, participation signals commitment to Malaysian cultural values whilst offering staff opportunities for creative expression within their professional roles. This integration of culture and journalism reflects broader Southeast Asian patterns where national identity and media professionalism remain closely intertwined in institutional practice.