{
  "id": 7073610,
  "title": "RM2,549 fee stands between handicraft seller's daughter and military dream",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/rm2-549-fee-stands-between-handicraft-sellers-daughter-and-military",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T06:31:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/09/1531765/rm2549-fee-stands-between-handicraft-sellers-daughter-and-military"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "TUMPAT: Despite facing three unsuccessful attempts at military selection, Siti Farah Damia Mohd Khairi, a 20-year-old former STPM student with a 3.67 GPA, remains determined to pursue a career as a military officer. She has been offered a place to study Defence Human Resource Management at Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) for RM2,549, but her family's financial limitations are hindering her progress. Her mother, Ros Ayu Mat Ail, 44, can only contribute RM1,000 towards the registration fee, which also includes the purchase of special clothing and equipment. Farah, the only child who lost her father at the age of 11 months, expressed her gratitude towards her mother and elderly grandmother, Siti Fatimah Omar, 75, for their sacrifices. She aims to repay them by fulfilling her mother's dream and continuing her own pursuit of a military career. Farah has attended three interviews, including one for the navy, but was unsuccessful due to physical factors in the third attempt. She remains hopeful for future opportunities and relies on her mother's handicraft sales and her grandmother's support to make ends meet.",
  "summary": "TUMPAT: Three failed attempts at military selection have not dampened the spirit of Siti Farah Damia Mohd Khairi, 20, in her pursuit of a career as a military officer.",
  "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."
}