Indonesia Celebrates National Press Day 2021 Virtually

By Mohd Shukri Ishak JAKARTA, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- The Indonesian National Press Day (HPN) 2021 on Tuesday is celebrated virtually following the COVID-19 pandemic. Held on Feb 9 annually, HPN has been considered as the second-largest celebration in Indonesia after Aidilfitri as it was attended by Indonesian cabinet ministers, provincial governors, ambassadors, corporate figures and more than 6,000 media practitioners throughout the republic. HPN is jointly organised by the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI), Indonesian Press Council, Newspaper Publishers Union (SPS), Indonesian Private Television Association (ATVSI), Indonesian Local Television Association (ATVLI), National Private Radio Association of Indonesia (PRSSNI), and Indonesian Association of Advertising Companies (PPPI). The Malaysia-Indonesia Friendship Alliance (Iswami) also attended Tuesday’s event virtually due to the pandemic. HPN 2021 was initially scheduled to be held in Kendari, Sulawesi, but was later moved to Jakarta. Indonesian President Joko Widodo when officiating the HPN celebration virtually, expressed his appreciation to the media who played an important role in disseminating information to educate the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I would like to express my deepest appreciation for helping the government educating the public to implement health protocols and help the public get the right and accurate information,” said Jokowi from Istana Merdeka, Jakarta. Themed “Awakening from Pandemic, Jakarta is the Gateway to Economic Recovery, Press as an Accelerator of Change”, HPN 2021 celebration was held at Candi Bentar, Ancol, Jakarta with strict health protocol, limited media presence and those present required to undergo swab test. Practitioners and media organisations in other provinces in Indonesia were also following the event online. Meanwhile, Iswami Malaysia president Abdul Rashid Yusof, his vice-president Datuk Zakaria Abdul Wahab, Malaysian Press Institute chief executive officer Datuk Chamil Wiraya and the first Iswami president, Tan Sri Johan Jaafar, in the video recording in conjunction with the celebration, expressed their appreciation to the Indonesian media for organising HPN 2021 despite facing various constraints during the COVID-19 pandemic. -- BERNAMA