A Tribute To National Heritage: Pesta Pantun HAWANA-DBP 2025 Kicks Off Tomorrow
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 (Bernama) -- Pesta Pantun HAWANA-DBP 2025, to take place tomorrow, is a platform for uniting the media community while upholding the pantun as an invaluable cultural heritage of the nation.
The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, said the competition to be held at Wisma Bernama in conjunction with the National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) 2025, will feature eight teams, each comprising four contestants.
The HAWANA 2025 project director said that contestants are encouraged to wear traditional attire, in line with the competition's theme of Traditional Classical Malay, to enliven the event, which Bernama is hosting for the first time in collaboration with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).
'This competition will feature four-line pantun verses with themes ranging from open topics to journalism and unity, and will have three rounds — the preliminary stage, semi-finals, and the final to determine the champion,' he said in a statement here.
He said that Group A comprises four teams from Bernama, Media Prima, the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), and Astro Radio News, and Group B consists of participants from the Malaysia Gazette, the Islamic Programming Department of TV3, Sinar Harian, and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).
The panel of judges includes Akademi DBP language planner Dr Faezah Muhayat, DBP central region language planner Musazliza Mustan Shir, language planner and special officer to DBP's director-general Azimin Daud, and Datuk Chuari Selamat, the pantun master.
Meanwhile, Bernama representative Fatin Najmi Mohammad Shah said that despite their work commitments, each team member dedicated their time to practise.
Fatin Najmi, who heads the Fact Check Desk (MyCheck Malaysia), said that for their preparations, they studied the usage of the classical Malay Language and watched videos on pantun.
'Undoubtedly, we are nervous as we are up against formidable opponents, many of whom have long been involved in the world of pantun,' she said.
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