SHAH ALAM, April 25 (Bernama) — A declaration to convey the wishes and dreams of journalists on the country’s future will be announced during National Journalist Day (HAWANA) 2022, to be held in Melaka on May 29.
Malaysian-Indonesian Journalists’ Association (ISWAMI) president, Datuk Mokhtar Hussain, said for that purpose, a sub-committee would be set up to draft the declaration.
“Matters contained in the declaration are about the views and aspirations of journalists for a more prosperous and united Malaysia,” he told the media here today.
“What is important is that we want to show that journalists in Malaysia have solidarity. We are inclusive not only of the mainstream media but also multi-lingual news portals, including from Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Earlier, Mokhtar chaired the HAWANA 2022 Coordination Meeting, which was attended by media representatives nationwide.
ISWAMI and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) will be the co-organisers of HAWANA 2022, which also involves other organisations, associations and media practitioners.
Tokoh Wartawan Negara (National Journalism Laureate), Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, who attended the meeting, said the ‘Melaka Declaration’ was important as a marker of excellence in the world of journalism in Malaysia, thus ensuring that HAWANA 2022 had an impact on journalists and the country’s media industry.
He said that the organisation of HAWANA 2022 will also have meaningful content as well as the latest developments in the media industry for journalists to increase their knowledge and expand networking, including at the international level.
Meanwhile, Mokhtar said that HAWANA 2022 would begin with the Media Convention on May 28 to discuss the direction and future of the media, especially when faced with technological changes and an increasingly challenging environment.
“We will hold a gala dinner in the evening, and will invite the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam,” he said.
Mokhtar said that HAWANA 2022 will be officiated at 2 pm on May 29 at a hotel in Melaka, and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has already confirmed his attendance to officiate the event.
In addition, he said that 17 major media leaders from Indonesia are also invited to attend HAWANA 2022.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency