Veteran Journalist Support Hosting HAWANA in Sabah

12 June 2025

KOTA KINABALU: A veteran journalist from Sabah has expressed full support for the 6th National Journalists’ Day Celebration (HAWANA) to be held in this state next year.

Welcoming the annual organisation of HAWANA, Joseph Bingkasan emphasised that the organisers should consider the principles of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) when selecting the host for next year’s celebration.

He noted that this is particularly important because MA63, enshrined in the Federal Constitution, affirms the equal status of Malaya, Sarawak, and Sabah.

He stated, “HAWANA has been celebrated four times in Peninsular Malaysia and once in Sarawak, so I believe it would be appropriate to hold it in Sabah next year.”

“The celebration in Sabah will also symbolise the true meaning of One Malaysia, aligning with the aspirations of the Madani Government,” he added.

Bingkasan made these remarks while reflecting on the HAWANA celebration which will be held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) on 14 June.

He also expressed hope that the Sabah government would provide strong support if Sabah is selected to host the event next year.

“We hope that HAWANA will not only be celebrated by media practitioners nationwide but will also involve students from communication programmes in the state, including students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).”

“This will help provide exposure and encouragement, especially for those aspiring to enter the fields of media or journalism in the future,” he said.

Now in its fifth edition this year, after its inaugural event in 2018, HAWANA is an annual event that brings together media practitioners to recognise their roles and contributions to national development.

The celebration aims, among other objectives, to recognise the vital role of journalists and media practitioners in Malaysia, as well as to provide a platform for sharing opinions and fostering the growth and development of the media industry in the country.