{
  "id": 19904348,
  "title": "5am wake up call ensures couple first to vote at polling station",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/5am-wake-up-call-ensures-couple-first-to-vote-at-polling-station-19904348",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T01:28:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/14/5am-wake-up-call-ensures-couple-first-to-vote-at-polling-station"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lew Chee Phin and his wife Tan Siw Choo made history by being the first voters in today's Melaka state election, having woken up at 5am to ensure they were ahead of the crowd. The 66-year-old and 62-year-old couple arrived at the polling station in Masjid Tanah at 7am, an hour before the polls opened for the Tanjung Bidara seat. Lew, who has participated in eight previous state elections, expressed his excitement and shared that it brought joy to see all three of their children returning home to fulfill their civic duty. The couple, who own a sundry shop in Masjid Tanah that opens at 9am, have made it a routine to cast their ballots early so they can start their business day with peace of mind. The Tanjung Bidara seat is currently witnessing a tight race between incumbent Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan candidate Yunazri Mustamiri.",
  "summary": "The couple in their 60s are also happy that their children returned to Melaka to cast their ballots in the state election.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}