{
  "id": 4087279,
  "title": "How Carmen Edmonds found her meaning of Merdeka at sea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/how-carmen-edmonds-found-her-meaning-of-merdeka-at-sea",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/29/how-carmen-edmonds-found-her-meaning-of-merdeka-at-sea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara - loyalty to king and country - was the driving force behind Lt Commander Carmen Rosemary Edmonds' 20-year naval career. Representing Malaysia in netball and hockey at a young age, Edmonds joined the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Reserve in 1974 at the age of 23, eventually becoming the first woman to serve as a training officer aboard a naval ship, KLD Tunas Samudera. As a female serving at sea, Edmonds faced unique challenges such as adapting to the wind while wearing a skirt uniform, which she overcame by placing pebbles along the hem to keep it in place. Life aboard KLD Tunas Samudera also required Edmonds to be just as self-reliant as the male crew members, exemplified by her encouragement of hesitant crew members during a storm. After retiring in 2001, Edmonds continued her service by becoming active in her neighborhood association, improving the community around her. Today, she views Merdeka not just as independence but as a responsibility towards the country and fellow citizens, emphasizing that it is an ongoing commitment to contribute to the nation.",
  "summary": "In 1990, she became the first woman to serve as a training officer aboard KLD Tunas Samudera, turning a belief in service into a life on the waves.",
  "key_points": [
    "Carmen Edmonds served 20 years in Royal Malaysian Navy Reserve.",
    "First woman training officer aboard KLD Tunas Samudera.",
    "Views Merdeka as responsibility towards country and citizens."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Carmen Edmonds experienced the true meaning of freedom at sea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/carmen-edmonds-temui-erti-merdeka-di-laut",
        "published": "2026-08-29T02:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}