{
  "id": 4092029,
  "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-4092029",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/08/29/how-carmen-edmonds-found-her-meaning-of-merdeka-at-sea"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lt Commander Carmen Rosemary Edmonds dedicated two decades of her life to the Royal Malaysian Navy, driven by her loyalty to king and country. Despite women comprising only 4% of the navy when she joined, Edmonds sought more challenging roles, eventually becoming the first woman to serve as a training officer aboard the KLD Tunas Samudera. Born in Seremban in 1951, Edmonds had already represented Malaysia in sports, including netball and hockey, before joining the navy. Her father served in the 3rd Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, and her uncle was in the British Royal Air Force, instilling a sense of service in her. Edmonds' naval career was marked by adaptability, exemplified by her practical solution to dealing with the wind while standing on the ship's deck. Her journey aboard KLD Tunas Samudera demonstrated her ability to contribute equally to the crew, even when facing challenges head-on. Post-retirement, Edmonds continued to serve her community, organizing initiatives through her neighbourhood association. For Edmonds, Merdeka signifies not just independence but the responsibility towards country and fellow Malaysians.",
  "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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "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",
        "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."
}