SOME 80 media practitioners gathered at a dinner and networking session held in conjunction with the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) celebration in Penang.
Organised by the Malaysian Media Council (MMC), the gathering aimed at fostering closer engagement and strengthening ties within the industry.
Media practitioners from Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, Kedah, Perak and Perlis joined the gathering.
Present were MMC chairman Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, Star Media Group (SMG) chief content officer Datin Paduka Esther Ng, Media Chinese (M) Group editor-in-chief Datuk Kuik Cheng Kang and SMG news editor Arnold Loh.
Nallini said the informal gathering between journalists and board members of MMC provided a platform to strengthen ties, foster better understanding and encourage open dialogue on the council’s role.
Describing the evening as engaging and productive, Nallini said the interaction exceeded expectations, with participants sharing their views and raising issues important to the media industry.
“It was a very enjoyable evening.
“The interaction was very good, warm and people spoke their minds, more than expected.
“We hope to move forward positively together,” she said.
Nallini said the council’s self-regulatory approach would require active participation from journalists and media organisations.
“It is for all of us to do it together.
“This is self-regulatory, so it is up to journalists and media companies to decide what should be placed on the agenda, what needs to be done and how to move it forward,” she added.
Attendees enjoyed hearty dishes such as white rice with asam pedas tenggiri, ladies’ fingers with anchovies, and ayam panggang masak lemak.
Several media practitioners celebrating their birthdays on the same day were feted with a special tribute, complete with a cake and a rendition of Happy Birthday.
On June 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated Hawana 2026, which had brought together about 1,000 media practitioners from Malaysia and abroad.
