Television station TV3 has retained its crown as champion of the HAWANA-DBP 2026 Pantun Festival, cementing its position as the nation's premier media organisation when it comes to the traditional art of Malay verse recitation. The victory, announced during celebrations in Butterworth on June 20, saw TV3 edge out the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) for the top prize, demonstrating the broadcaster's sustained excellence in this culturally significant competition.

The TV3 team that claimed the title comprises Mohammad Nor Affiq Norshamsudin, Mohd Safwan Sawi, Azrin Md Isa, and Mohamed Hirsham Azmi. Their success represents the second consecutive year that TV3 has won the championship, having triumphed in the inaugural edition of the festival the previous year. The back-to-back victories underscore the depth of talent and preparation within the broadcaster's ranks, as well as the commitment to preserving traditional Malaysian cultural forms within modern media institutions.

The grandeur of the occasion reflected the importance placed on the pantun festival by Malaysia's political leadership. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself presented the awards at the HAWANA 2026 main event, held at the PICCA Convention Centre @ Butterworth Arena. 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 underscored the significance of National Journalists' Day celebrations and the pantun competition within the broader framework of media excellence in Malaysia.

The financial rewards for TV3's victory totalled RM3,000 in prize money, accompanied by a championship trophy and participation certificates for all team members. Bernama's runner-up position garnered RM2,000 in cash along with its own trophy and certificates. Beyond the top two finishers, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) secured third place, while Berita Harian finished fourth. The competition drew participation from eight media organisations in total, reflecting the wide reach of the festival across Malaysia's journalism and broadcasting landscape.

Individual honours were also distributed throughout the competition. Muhammad Syukri Khairulannuar, representing Bernama, earned recognition as the Best Pantun Performer, a distinction that highlights the technical skill and artistry required to excel in pantun recitation. Meanwhile, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) team took home the Best Attire Award, recognising the importance of presentation and cultural authenticity in the performance of traditional verse forms. These ancillary prizes demonstrate that the festival values not merely victory but also craftsmanship and cultural respect across multiple dimensions.

The actual competition took place on May 9 at Panggung Sari, Kompleks Kraf Kuala Lumpur, serving as one of several curtain-raiser events leading up to the main HAWANA 2026 celebrations. A total of 32 participants across the eight teams competed, making it a substantial gathering of Malaysia's media professionals united in celebrating and performing this cornerstone of Malay cultural heritage. The timing of the competition as a preliminary event allowed the HAWANA festivities to build momentum toward their grand finale.

TV3 team leader Mohammad Nor Affiq reflected on the significance of his team's achievement in an interview following the victory announcement. He acknowledged that shouldering the responsibility of leading a defending champion team had initially weighed upon him, but he credited the inspiration and mentorship provided by TV3 host Ahmad Fedtri Yahya with enabling him to embrace the challenge. His remarks reveal the human dimension behind competitive success in cultural fields, where psychological resilience and interpersonal support networks play crucial roles alongside technical preparation.

Nor Affiq expressed gratitude for the collective effort that underpinned the team's triumph, specifically thanking his teammates for their dedication, his family members for their encouragement, and the broader community of supporters who stood behind the team throughout their preparation and competition. This acknowledgment of multiple layers of support illustrates the ecosystem required to sustain excellence in traditional art forms within modern institutional settings. The victory, he emphasised through an Islamic invocation of gratitude, represented the culmination of focused effort and collaborative commitment.

Meanwhile, Bernama's team leader Muhammad Syukri adopted a forward-looking perspective on his organisation's runner-up finish. Rather than dwelling on the loss, he framed the second-place result as a catalyst for intensive preparation in anticipation of future editions. Syukri committed to a systematic review of performance weaknesses and a comprehensive strengthening of preparation strategies, expressing confidence that Bernama could translate this year's disappointment into championship success in subsequent years. His remarks reflect a mature approach to competitive engagement in cultural fields, where sustained motivation requires viewing interim setbacks as learning opportunities rather than final verdicts.

The HAWANA 2026 festival operates under the thematic framework of 'Media Integrity Strengthens Credibility', a concept that connects the celebration of traditional arts like pantun to broader concerns about professional standards and public trust in journalism. The Ministry of Communications sponsors the initiative in partnership with Bernama as the implementing agency, positioning the pantun festival within the larger national conversation about media excellence and social responsibility. This thematic anchoring ensures that competitive excellence in cultural performance becomes interwoven with the festival's deeper message about journalism's role in nation-building.

The HAWANA grand finale functions as Malaysia's most significant annual gathering of media professionals, providing a platform to recognise the contributions of journalists to national development. By embedding the pantun competition within this larger celebration, organisers reinforce the message that cultural sophistication and traditional knowledge retention remain integral to modern journalism. The festival thus serves multiple purposes simultaneously: honouring professional achievement, celebrating cultural heritage, reinforcing professional standards, and strengthening community bonds among media practitioners across the country. For broadcasters and news organisations like TV3 and Bernama, participation represents a commitment to these multifaceted values that extend beyond day-to-day news operations.