{
  "id": 19911360,
  "title": "Melaka polls: Student spends RM700 on air tickets to cast first vote",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/melaka-polls-student-spends-rm700-on-air-tickets-to-cast-first-vote",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T03:09:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1577302/melaka-polls-student-spends-rm700-air-tickets-cast-first-vote"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the 16th Melaka election, a 20-year-old university student named Ashira Dania Mohd Hairun from Sarawak spent RM700 on return flight tickets to cast her first vote in her hometown of Taman Seri Duyong 2. Ashira, a Social Sciences student at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), expressed her excitement at finally having the opportunity to choose her elected representative. Accompanied by her older sister, relatives, and a first-time voting cousin, she cast her ballot for the Duyong seat at SK Seri Duyong. Ashira hoped for the elected representative to focus on the constituency's development and provide more opportunities for young people in community programs. She also wished for more youth activities, especially in sports like football, rugby, fishing, and netball. The Duyong constituency is currently in a tight race between Barisan Nasional incumbent Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abd Halem and Pakatan Harapan's Poo Long Suan.",
  "summary": "KOTA MELAKA: A 20-year-old university student spent RM700 on return flight tickets from Sarawak to Melaka so she could fulfil her responsibility as a first-time voter in the 16th Melaka election today.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "Politics : Melaka Polls: Ab Rauf, Adam Adli Cast Vote",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/politics-melaka-polls-ab-rauf-adam-adli-cast-vote",
        "published": "2026-11-14T00:36:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Ab Rauf and Adam Adli cast ballots as Melaka heads to polls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/ab-rauf-and-adam-adli-cast-ballots-as-melaka-heads-to-polls",
        "published": "2026-11-14T02:27:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "17.96% voter turnout in Melaka polls as of 10am",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/17-96-voter-turnout-in-melaka-polls-as-of-10am",
        "published": "2026-11-14T02:36:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}