Kumpulan Karangkraf named recipient of HAWANA 2022 Award

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the HAWANA 2022 main event saw Karangkraf, a media organisation of over 40 years, bag the prestigious award, along with a trophy, certificate and RM10,000 in cash.

Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, presented the award to Karangkraf chairman, Datuk Dr Hussamuddin Yaacub.

The recipient was selected based on several criteria, including being registered and producing excellent work of quality, in-depth analysis of issues, and impactful in the year of assessment.

The recipient must also practice good governance and journalistic values, contribute to the development of journalism and the media industry in the country, and their work must bring about human development, peace and prosperity.

Kumpulan Karangkraf made its first appearance in 1978, with the publication of Mingguan Kanak-kanak, and in 1990, expanded its business scope by the publication of books of several genres, through Alaf 21 and Karya Bestari.

In 2006, the group published the regional tabloid, Sinar Harian, that went down in history as the fastest growing newspaper in Malaysia.

The media group now stands tall in the industry with 13 magazines, novel publication, printing, Internet media channels and news reporting.

In 2015, the group started the 'Malaysia Ngaji' programme, followed by the World #QuranHour campaign in 2016 and several spinoffs, including Malaysia #QuranHour, Merdeka #QuranHour and World #QuranConvention, that had a cumulative participation of around 2.475 billion.

In February 2021, the group introduced an aggressive anti-corruption initiative known as #RasuahBusters, involving media groups, individuals, organisations and private companies, and it currently has 550 strategic partners.

The HAWANA 2022 Award aims to acknowledge and honour professional journalists, individuals or organisations, that have contributed significantly, not only in the field of journalism but also in shaping the minds of Malaysians through published works.

May 29 has been gazetted as National Journalists Day, in conjunction with the publication of the first newspaper in Malaysia, Utusan Melayu, on May 29, 1939, which became the first media platform in the country.

The first time HAWANA was held was on April 11 2018 at Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The inaugural celebration, themed 'Defending the Nation, Building the Country', was attended by about 1,000 media practitioners from all over the country.

On Nov 30, 2021, the government decided to retain the date May 29 annually as National Journalists Day.