{
  "id": 10088086,
  "title": "Datuk V.L. Kandan: An educator to the very end [WATCH]",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/datuk-v-l-kandan-an-educator-to-the-very-end-watch",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T23:02:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1541808/datuk-vl-kandan-educator-very-end-watch"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 15, Datuk V.L. Kandan called Zaharah, his granddaughter, who was taken aback by the call. Kandan, who had been ill, had died six days later at 2pm. Kandan, an educator, a former assemblyman, and a distinguished lawyer, was passionate about education. He had visited Kirkby Malayan Teachers Training College (MTTC) in 1952 as part of the fifth batch of teachers sent to the UK to train for Malaysia's independence. Kandan's final words to Zaharah were about his pride in his grandnephew's academic achievements and the importance of education in shaping a person's life.",
  "summary": "ON the morning of Sept 15, the ping of my mobile phone startled me awake as I tried to drift back to sleep after Subuh prayers. The message simply read: “Dear Zaharah, it is 6am in London now. But then, you Muslims are early birds! I haven’t spoken with you in ages. May I call now? Kandan.”",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Datuk V.L. Kandan: An educator to the very end",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/datuk-v-l-kandan-an-educator-to-the-very-end",
        "published": "2026-09-26T23:02:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}