{
  "id": 4174250,
  "title": "A Merdeka memory, made for the front page",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/a-merdeka-memory-made-for-the-front-page",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T10:58:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/08/1521356/merdeka-memory-made-front-page"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "At Dataran Merdeka, the historic square in Kuala Lumpur, visitors were immersed in the festivities ahead of National Day. Among them was Arul Selvan Jeyaraj, a 48-year-old from Ipoh, who paused to capture his own face on the front page of the New Straits Times. He expressed a sense of pride in seeing himself on a paper he still read in print. Arul hoped the novelty would encourage younger Malaysians to read newspapers, as many had shifted to social media for news.\n\nFor Sanjeevan Sivaraj, a 36-year-old from Penang, the photobooth experience transformed a family holiday into an unexpected Merdeka memory. Though he mostly read news online, holding a physical newspaper with his family's photograph on the front page reminded him of the joy of reading print. The experience sparked a reminder for him and his children to appreciate the value of a physical newspaper.\n\nNurshazwana Izzlyen Kamaruzaman, a 25-year-old from Selayang, noted that the campaign offered a unique experience for a generation more accustomed to screens. She observed that children had never held a newspaper before, and the opportunity to interact with a real newspaper sparked their curiosity. She emphasized the campaign's significance in celebrating Malaysian people from diverse backgrounds, highlighting its role in fostering unity and pride among citizens.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Under the scorching afternoon sun at Dataran Merdeka, visitors streamed through the historic square, watching parade rehearsals, taking photographs and soaking up the festivities ahead of National Day.",
  "key_points": [
    "48-year-old Arul Selvan Jeyaraj from Ipoh captures his face on front page of New Straits Times",
    "36-year-old Sanjeevan Sivaraj from Penang experiences Merdeka memory with family",
    "25-year-old Nurshazwana Izzlyen Kamaruzaman notes campaign sparks curiosity in children"
  ],
  "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."
}