Former National Weightlifter's Death A Great Loss - OCM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama)-- Former national weightlifter and Hall of Fame inductee Sum Kwok Seng, passed away on Saturday at the age of 84.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) in a statement here today said, the late Sum was an active member of the Malaysian Amateur Weightlifting Federation (MAWF) from the 1950 to the 1990s.

He was also the Chef-de-Mission of the Malaysian Contingent to the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.

According to the statement, Sum was also one of the founders of the Southeast Asia Peninsular Games Federation in 1959.

"The late Sum Kwok Seng was a very dedicated sports official, with strong ethics and passion for the development of sport.

"His death is a great loss to the country and leaves a big void in the Olympic Movement of Malaysia," the statement said.

For his contributions, Sum was inducted into the OCM Hall of Fame in 2002.

He would be cremated at 2pm tomorrow at the Qui Yuen Funeral Parlour in Petaling Jaya.

-- BERNAMA

Misbun insan unik, istimewa

SIAPA lagi kalau bukan Datuk Misbun Sidek yang bertanggungjawab mencungkil bakat pemain Datuk Lee Chong Wei sehingga menjadi pemain badminton nombor satu dunia pada ketika ini.

Misbun yang tidak asing dalam dunia badminton, mula menghidu bakat Chong Wei ketika pemain itu berusia 17 tahun.

Berkat kesabaran Misbun, akhirnya menyaksikan Chong Wei mula dikenali daripada pemain biasa kepada bertaraf dunia, malah kejayaannya membawa pulang pingat perak Sukan Olimpik Beijing mengesahkannya selaku pemain terbaik negara buat masa ini.

Penglibatan Misbun dalam dunia badminton bukan setakat jurulatih tetapi beliau juga amat dikenali sebagai pemain utama negara lebih 20 tahun lalu.

Misbun, selaku anak sulung dalam sejarah legenda badminton negara - keluarga Allahyarham Datuk Sidek Abdullah Kamar – mula melangkah ke era antarabangsa sekitar 1980-an.

Antara rentetan kejayaan Misbun di arena antarabangsa termasuklah naib juara Piala Dunia 1982 dan Seluruh England pada tahun 1986. Misbun dan rakan sepasukan juga pernah muncul naib juara Piala Thomas 1988 manakala 2002 menyaksikan Misbun mencapai kemuncak karier selepas terpilih sebagai jurulatih perseorangan skuad badminton negara.

Dalam banyak anugerah sukan yang diterimanya, paling bermakna buat Misbun ialah apabila dinobatkan selaku Jurulatih Terbaik 2008, yang dianggap satu penghormatan besar kepadanya.

Apa yang menarik tentang Misbun ialah keupayaan beliau mengawal perasaan ketika di bahunya memikul tanggungjawab besar di Olimpik tatkala isterinya berdepan dengan masalah kesihatan.

Dengan semangat dedikasi sedemikian rupa, tidak hairanlah pemain-pemain di bawah asuhannya mahu menghadiahkannya lebih banyak kemenangan.

– Edleen Ismail adalah penyampai sukan SportCenter di ESPN

Utusan Malaysia

		Nama sebenar beliau ialah Mohamed Misbun Bin Dato’ Sidek dilahirkan pada 17 Februari 1960 di Banting, Selangor. Misbun Haji Sidek merupakan pemain badminton pertama di negara ini yang mencapai taraf antarabangsa ketika berusia 24 tahun. Sepanjang penglibatan beliau dalam dunia badminton beliau telah menunjukkan komitmen yang penuh dedikasi sehingga telah dikurniakan pingat kebesaran BSD, AMP, AMN, PJK. Jawatan yang dipegang oleh beliau sepanjang penglibatan di dalam dunia badminton ialah sebagai Ketua Jurulatih Kelab Badminton Nusa Mahsuri (Mulai 1996 hingga 31 Disember 2002), Penasihat Kelab Badminton Nusa Mahsuri (Mulai 1 Januari hingga sekarang), Ketua Jurulatih Perseorangan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (Mulai 1 Januari 2003 hingga 31 Disember 2004) dan Jurulatih Perseorangan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (Mulai 1 Januari 2005 hingga sekarang).

Malaya sprint champion dies from a stroke

Sidique from a picture taken in 2006.

FORMER Malayan sprint champion Sidique Ali Merican died from a stroke at his home in Petaling Jaya on Tuesday.

He was 78.

Sidique, from Kota Baru, leaves behind wife Fatimah Shariff and sons Dr Ezlan and Shazman.

He was laid to rest at the Kampung Tunku Muslim Cemetery in Petaling Jaya yesterday.

Sidique, who had an unusual crouching start position, clocked 10.3 seconds running barefoot in his first maiden 100 yards race at an athletics championship in Kota Baru in 1949.
He then clocked 10.0s in the 100 yards for a new Malayan record in Singapore later that year, which stood until 1958, to emerge as Malayan sprint champion, a title he held until 1954.





His best performances however were clocking 9.8s in the 100 yards and 22.0s in the 200 yards at the Inter-Universities Athletics Championship in England in 1952 while studying at the Loughborough College.

After obtaining a Diploma of Physical Education from the University of Loughborough in 1955, Sidique began a teaching career at the Sultan Ismail College in Kota Baru.

Sidique also had a brief coaching career and was part of the coaching team of the athletics squad at the 1968 Rome Olympics.

Sidique's active involvement in sports saw him appointed as the assistant sports director at the Culture, Youth and Sports Ministry in 1972 and before being promoted as its director-general in 1981. He retired from the civil service in 1985.

As a sports official, Sidique served as the chef-de-mission to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, deputy chef-de-mission to the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games and deputy chef-de-mission to the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi.

He was also the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) assistant honorary secretary from 1974 to 1986 and was inducted into OCM's Hall of Fame in 2002. -- Bernama

Jaguh Pecut Malaya Meninggal Dunia Akibat Angin Ahmar

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Mei (Bernama) -- Jaguh pecut Malaya antara 1949 dan 1954, Sidique Ali Merican meninggal dunia akibat serangan angin ahmar di kediamannya di Petaling Jaya malam tadi.

Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) dalam laman webnya menyatakan kesedihan berikutan pemergian Allahyarham yang disifatkan satu kehilangan besar kepada negara.

Allahyarham Sidique, 79, yang berasal dari Kota Bharu, Kelantan meninggalkan seorang balu, Fatimah Shariff dan dua anak lelaki, Dr Ezlan dan Shazman.

Jenazahnya dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Kampung Tunku, di Petaling Jaya, selepas solat Zohor.

Enam dekad lepas, Allahyarham dinobatkan raja pecut Malaysia, ketika itu Malaya, selepas mencatatkan masa 10.3 saat dengan berkaki ayam dalam acara 100 ela (acara pecut ketika itu yang kemudian digantikan dengan acara 100 meter) pada satu kejohanan di Kota Bharu.

Bagaimanapun kejayaan Sidique yang paling mengagumkan ialah muncul rakyat Malaysia pertama yang berjaya melakukan catatan di bawah 10 saat bagi acara 100 ela pada 1952.

Catatan 9.8s dilakukannya pada satu kejohanan antara universiti di Britain ketika melanjutkan pelajaran di Kolej Loughborough.

Sidique kemudian beralih menjadi pentadbir sukan dengan jawatan tertingginya dalam kerajaan selaku Pengarah Sukan di Kementerian Belia dan Sukan pada 1981.

Selain itu, Allahyarham juga pernah dilantik sebagai Timbalan Ketua Kontinjen Malaysia ke Sukan Olimpik di Montreal (1976), Timbalan Ketua Kontinjen ke Sukan Komanwel di Edmonton (1978) dan Setiausaha Penganjur bagi Sukan SEA di Kuala Lumpur pada 1977.

Allahyarham Sidique juga pernah menjadi Penolong Setiausaha Majlis Olimpik Malaysia (MOM) dari 1974 hingga 1986.

-- BERNAMA

Malayan Sprint Champ Dies Of Stroke

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- Former Malayan sprint champion 1949- 1954, Sidique Ali Merican, died of a stroke at his home in Petaling Jaya last night.

He was 79.

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) in its website today described Sidique's death as a big loss to the country.

Sidique from Kota Baharu, Kelantan left behind a wife, Fatimah Shariff and two sons, Dr Ezlan and Shazman.

He was laid to rest at the Kampung Tunku Muslim Cemetary in Petaling Jaya after the Zohor prayer today.

Approximately six decades ago, Sidique was declared as the Malaysian (then Malaya) sprint king after he clocked 10.3s barefooted in the 100 yards (before it was changed to 100m) at an athletics championship in Kota Baharu, Kelantan.

Sidique's greatest achievement, however, was when he emerged as the only Malaysian who beat his European rivals in the final of the 100 yards race at an inter-varsity athletics championship in Britain in 1952.

He clocked 9.8s when he studied at the Loughborough College.

The sprinter-turned-administrator was made the director of sports at the Sports Ministry in 1981.

Throughout his career, the former sprint champ was also appointed the deputy chef-de-mission to the Montreal Olympic Games 1976, deputy chef-de-mission to the Edmonton Commonwealth Games 1978 and organising secretary of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 1977.

He was also the OCM assistant secretary from 1974 to 1986.

-- BERNAMA

Death of Mr. Sidique Ali Merican

It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing away of our colleague and friend, Mr. Sidique Ali Merican, aged 79.

Mr. Sidique Ali Merican was a great sportsman, who was famed for his remarkable achievement in Athletics. He clocked 10.3 second barefooted in Kota Bharu and was the first Malayan to break the 10 second barrier in 100 yard. His best performances ever were clocking the 100 yard in 9.8 second and 200 yard in 22 second at the Inter-Universities Athletics Championship in England in 1952.

Mr. Sidique Ali Merican received his primary education in Kelantan in 1940s and furthered his studies to Malayan Teachers Training College in Kirby, England in 1952. He had obtained a Diploma of Physical Education from the University of Louhborough, England in 1955.

Upon return from England, he had started his career as a teacher at the Sultan Ismail College, Kota Bharu, Kelantan. He was appointed as Headmaster at the Kuala Krai Primary School in 1960 and then Schools Development Officer of the State of Kelantan in 1962. Based on his active involvement in sports, he was then appointed as Assistant Sports Director of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Malaysia in 1972 and been promoted as its Director General in 1981. Mr. Sidique Ali Merican retired from civil service in 1985.

Mr. Sidique Ali Merican was elected as Honorary Assistant Secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) for the period from 1974 to 1986. During his tenure with the OCM, he was holding several important portfolios such as Secretary of the Organizing Committee of SEA Games 1977, Deputy Chef de Mission of Malaysian Contingent to Commonwealth Games 1978, Asian Games 1982, Olympic Games 1984 etc.

The death of Mr. Sidique Ali Merican is a great loss to the country and leaves a big void in the Olympic Movement of Malaysia.

The demise of Mr. Sidique Ali Merican

Mr. Sidique Ali Merican

The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) was indeed greatly saddened by the demise of Mr. Sidique Ali Merican, former OCM Honorary Assistant Secretary from 9 Nov 1974 to 7 Nov 1986.

The Executive Board, Council and affiliates of the OCM express its deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Sidique Ali Merican.

The passing of a legend

Sidique (centre)

The sports fraternity is in deep sorrow. The first Malayan to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 yard dash is no more. Sidique Ali Merican, sprinter-turned-administrator, bed-ridden due to stroke for a number of years, passed away at his Petaling Jaya residence last night.

In his prime the Kelantan-born sprinter was famed for his crouching start. It was exactly six decades ago that Sidique emerged as the golden boy of athletics, clocking 10.3s running barefooted in Kota Bharu. His 9.8s was registered in the 1952 inter-varsity athletics championship in England, representing Loughborough College.

He later stamped his mark as an official, both in the government and non-governmental organisations. When he was made the Director of Sports in the Youth and Sports Ministry in 1981, he made the call to utilise foreign technicians to raise our standard. Sidique was also part of the team that identified Bukit Jalil as the location for the National Sports Complex in the 1970s.

Sidique was 78. He leaves behind wife Fatimah Shariff and sons, Dr Ezlan and Shazman. He will be laid to rest this afternoon. Al-Fatihah and may Allah bless his departed soul.

PROFILE SIDIQUE ALI MERICAN

Date/place of birth: Aug 24, 1930/Kota Baru

Family: Married to Fatimah Shariff, sons Dr Ezlan and Shazman

Honours: Malayan sprint champ 1949-1954

Career: Sports organiser of schools in Kelantan, assistant director of sports, director of sports of the Youth and Sports Ministry, deputy chef-de-mission to the Montreal Olympic Games 1976, deputy chef-de-mission to the Edmonton CommonwealthGames 1978, organising secretary of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 1977, assistant secretary of Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

A legend, bed-ridden

NSC's Zaiton Othman (former Bionic girl) pays a visit to the bed-ridden Sidique

Sidique in his prime was famed for his crouching start

While we are busy preparing for Syawal, spare a thought and offer our prayers to Sidique Ali Merican, sprinter-turned-administrator who is bed-ridden.

Harian Metro carried this laporan Harian Metro on Sunday.

I interviewed Sidique a few years back for the Icon column in the old Malay Mail. Following is the story, for the benefit of the younger generation who do not have an inkling as to who Sidique is and his contributions to the country. For the life of me why is he not a Datuk?

HE was arguably the golden boy of athletics renowned for the crouching start in the early 50s. From champion sprinter to administrator, Sidique Ali Merican's name remains indelibly marked in the Malaysian sporting hall of fame.

Now undergoing rehabilitation after a stroke, Sidique speaks through his wife, Fatimah Shariff, to Mailsport's RIZAL HASHIM.

Mailsport: Can you tell us your background?

Sidique Ali Merican: I was born in Kota Baru although my parents hailed from Penang. Father Dr Ali Osman Merican uprooted the family from Penang to Kelantan to open a new clinic in Kota Baru. At first, I was more into football and rugby. Athletics as a sport then was as remotely developed as the State of Kelantan itself.

MS: So how did you start your athletics career?

SAM: Athletics did not really catch my fancy as races were carnival affairs then. If at all I was caught indulging in it, it would only have been restricted to running between the two goals of the Ismail English School grounds for me to keep fit. I discovered that I could run when I was drafted into my school team, in June 1949. Running barefooted, I clocked 10.3s in the 100 yards. From there on, several teachers recognised my good time and made arrangements for me to run in the first post-war Malayan Amateur Athletics Association championships two months later at the Selangor Club Padang.

MS: That was when your unorthodox starting position first made headlines?

SAM: Yes. I was basically untrained and did not know how to run properly. My start was like a bullock cart coming out of the mud. Instead of going down on my knees when the starter called "on your mark", I crouched at the start of every race. And it landed me into trouble with the starter. It was an experience I could not forget. We were all lined up for the start of the first heat and when the "on your mark" order was given, the other runners got on their knees. I was crouching nervously. Suddenly I noticed the starter was looking annoyingly in my direction and my stance. He seemed to be waiting for me to go down and when I did not, he called for a restart and asked me why I was not following the others. It must have truly surprised him when I said the crouch was my normal position. In the end, he allowed the race to proceed. Armed with a new pair of spikes bought from Singapore following the Kota Baru race, I clocked 10.0s flat in the 100 yards for a new Malayan record which stood until 1958. Later on, I discarded the crouch and took up the blocks which I felt at one time were not comfortable.

MS: How would you describe your first race outside Kelantan and the fact that you were wearing spikes for the first time en route to clocking a new national mark?

SAM: The day was exceptionally hot and my fellow finalists did not even know where I was from. The loud sound of the starter's gun held me back temporarily but I found myself leading the pack of six runners with Singapore's Tan Eng Yoon breathing down my neck. I then became aware of the spikes I was wearing. Eng Yoon and I hit the tape almost the same stride but I knew I had won. It was later announced over the public address system that I was first in a time of 10 seconds flat. I was extremely happy because I was the first Malayan to post the time and the feeling of being on top of the world could not be explained in words.

MS: Were there other moments that you cherished during your short stint as a sprinter?

SAM: Of course. I remember the 9.8s I registered in the 100 yards during the inter-varsity athletics championships in 1952. I was representing the Loughborough College and I beat my European rivals in the final.

MS: Disappointments?

SAM: A few, regrettably. I wanted so much to compete in the British Empire Games (forerunner of the Commonwealth Games) but I was not registered for trials because the Kelantan AAA officials did not turn up at the appointed place. They were watching a football match betweenTerengganu and Kelantan.

MS: When you were made the director of sports with the Sports Ministry in 1981, what was the main thrust of your tenure?

SAM: That we ought to increase mass participation in sports. The Sports Division then lacked credibility, no aims and targets and sense of direction. Then it was made clear that the Ministry became a promoter of sports for all and sports as a way of life, while the National Sports Council (NSC) focus on the elite programme. I made the call to utilise foreign technical experts to raise our standards.

MS: When I last spoke to you in 2001, you said Bukit Jalil in the 60s was full of starfruit trees.

SAM: Yes, it has certainly changed beyond recognition. It is now exclusively for sports ... I'm happy for that. I happened to be part ofthe team that identified Bukit Jalil as the location of the state-of-the-art National Sports Complex in the 1970s. A place where the elite high-performers and the masses could converge.

MS: Thank you for the interview. We pray for your speedy recovery.

SAM: Thank you.

PROFILE SIDIQUE ALI MERICAN

Date/place of birth: Aug 24, 1930/Kota Baru

Family: Married to Fatimah Shariff, sons Dr Ezlan and Shazman

Honours: Malayan sprint champ 1949-1954

Career: Sports organiser of schools in Kelantan, assistant director of sports, director of sports, deputy chef-de-mission to the Montreal Olympic Games 1976, deputy chef-de-mission to the Edmonton CommonwealthGames 1978, organising secretary of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 1977, assistant secretary of Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

*Source: http://rizalhashim.blogspot.com/

Sidique was inducted into the OCM’s Hall of Fame in 2002.

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Former cycling great backs Azizul, Rizal for Asian Games gold

PETALING JAYA: One can count the number of Malaysian cyclists who have bagged medals at the Asian level with one hand and it is why former cycling great Shaharudin Jaffar (pic) is gushing with pride at what cyclists like Azizul Hasni Awang and Rizal Tisin have achieved for the country recently.

Shaharudin, who made his way into the history books as the first Malaysian SEAP Games gold medallist in cycling when he won the 800m sprint race in Kuala Lumpur in 1965, now hopes Azizul and Rizal will end a miserably long drought when they compete in the Guangzhou Asian Games next year.

The last and only time the country hit the golden trail in the Asian Games was in Bangkok in 1970 and Shaharudin felt it is long overdue to see another Malaysian climb to the top of the podium.

Shaharudin is not in the best of health after undergoing a heart bypass surgery recently and is also down with a kidney problem. But the 68-year-old is adamant he will live to see the moment.

“We had two gold medals from cycling that year through Ng Joo Ngan and Daud Ibrahim.

“But no one has managed to win medals after that until Josiah Ng came into the picture in 2002.

“Now, we have cyclists like Azizul and Rizal, who are writing new chapters for Malaysian cycling.

“I hope they can end the gold-medal wait for Malaysia. They have won medals at the World Championships and the Asian Games should be no big obstacle if they get their preparations right.

“I hope the authorities will make efforts to check out the conditions of the venue too as this is very important,” said Shaharudin, who was also an Asian Games bronze medallist in 1962.

Due to his state of health, he is not able to drive on his own let alone have the chance to ride a bicycle.

However, the former secretary of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation in the 70s still keeps up with the exploits of the current generation of cyclists.

“I have always aspired to see the national cyclists rise to a greater level.

“Our national track cyclists are reaping the benefits from the overseas training stints and exposure to high-level competitions and much of it is because the National Sports Council recognised long ago that cycling had the potential to do well one day.

“It is not done overnight but we are seeing the fruits of the effort put in.

“It is not impossible for a Malaysian to become an Olympic champion in cycling as it is not about brute physical strength but more about tactics and determination.

“I saw how Azizul raced at the Beijing Olympics at that time and I knew he had these qualities. I am not surprised that he has won a silver medal in the sprint event at the World Championships in March this year. But there is a lot of hard work to do to bring back good results,” he added.

Shaharudin certainly is no stranger to hard work. He started cycling one year before Malaysia gained independence in 1957 but it was more of a need rather than a hobby.

“I used to cycle 15 miles to school in Sitiawan every day and that was how cycling became a part of me.

“It was common those days for us to ride our bikes to Penang or Kuala Lumpur to take part in local races as that was the only way for us to hone our skills.

“If we were not riding bikes, we will hitch rides on lorries travelling to those places and we stayed in a mosque to save money. There was no such thing as staying in a hotel because we did not have any money to spare.

“But our passion for cycling is there and we were determined to make sure we did not miss any opportunity we got to race,” added Shaharudin, who now resides in Shah Alam and still helps out in organising monthly community cycling programmes.

THE STAR

Shaharudin Jaffar (pic) is one of the ex - athletes inducted to OCM HALL OF FAME.

Mighty Marina

By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: It is tough bringing up a kid these days. What’s more when you have almost 500 of them under your care. It can be really intimidating.

Just ask Marina Chin, the former pin-up girl of Malaysian athletics in the 70s. She should know.

She is after all the first woman principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS).

Proud achievement: Marina Chin showing some of the results that her students achieved at Bukit Jalil Sports School

Being a mother of two herself, Marina knows what it takes to keep children in check.

She knew she had to be a strict disciplinarian, otherwise she risked the students climbing all over her head, literally.

Thus, her serious and tough demeanour.

And that has earned her the nickname of ‘Iron Lady’ among the Malaysian sports fraternity.

She says the reason she brooks no nonsense from her students is because “I treat them like my own children and, deep down, I really care for them.”

And her students know that. After all, some of them also call her “mother” – something her own kids could not comprehend at first.

“My children (Jasmine Kaur Bhatt and Ashvinder Singh) were not that amused in the beginning when the other kids started calling me mother. Eventually, they got used to it,” she quipped.

Pin-up girl: Marina when she was crowned Sportswoman of the Year 1876

“Some students still keep in touch with me when they leave school. Some hug me when they see me. Some are successful in both sports and studies.”

The beginning, however, was an uphill battle for Marina. The students, and even their parents, could not accept and comprehend Marina’s vision.

“As a teacher, mother and a former athlete, I know the importance of striking a balance between studies and sports. Both sporting and academic excellence is important to me,” said the 52-year-old Marina, who is married to former national rugby player Jagjit Singh.

“My vision is for the school to produce well-behaved and educated athletes. Discipline is very important to me. If an athlete cannot conform to this, they can forget about their sports career.

“I made all the boys go for a “number three” hair cut. Their hair is now short and well-trimmed. But I had a lot of resistance initially.”

The BJSS athletes also have a tight schedule to follow. They have classes in the morning, training in the afternoon and night classes too.

And if an athlete misses three classes he or she will be banned from taking part in one competition.

“There has to be sacrifices if one wants to pursue sports in this school. This is not a school for one to have free food and lodging,” she said.

“It can be taxing on the athletes but it is a choice they have to make. We are here to guide them to manage their time.

“The athletes may not be happy with us now but, 10 years down the road, I am sure they will thank the BJSS,” added Marina, who won a total of seven gold medals in the SEA Games.

Marina admitted that it became a big challenge when she had to meet the different expectations of the major stakeholders – athletes, parents, National Sports Council (NSC), National Sports Associations (NSAs) and the Education Ministry.

“People in sports do not regard academic excellence highly. But whether we like it or not, BJSS is a school. And it is my job to ensure that the students get through their studies. It will safeguard their future,” she said.

For instance, Olympian diver Pandelela Rinong had to miss studies for seven months during the PMR last year because she was based in China.

But the ever-concerned Marina made special arrangements for a tutor to be sent to China and Pandelela eventually came through the PMR with 3As, 3Bs and IC.

Marina said that the school had also invited former athletes and legends like Datuk Dr M. Jegathesan and Dr Farah Hani Imram to inspire the athletes to excel in both sports and studies.

On the school’s thorny relationship with the NSC and NSA’s in recent times, especially on the selection of athletes into the school, she said: “Fortunately, Datuk Zolkples (Embong, the NSC director general) understands what I am trying to do. He knows our policies and we try to understand their constraints. We try to strike a balance.

“We do not interfere with the plans and programmes of the NSAs but try to complement them.”

This can be seen from the off-and-on-field success achieved by her students last year. While four students scored 7As in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), the school’s students were also major medal contributors at the Korat SEA Games.

Marina’s vision is slowly taking shape but she hopes that the athletes will be more proactive.

“Personally, I know that we have the talent and potential. But the students nowadays expect a lot to be done for them. During my day, athletes were very independent. I used to take two buses to go for my training. How I wish athletes these days have that extra drive and initiative,” said the Sportswoman of the Year in 1976 and 1977.

During her heyday, Marina was known as the queen of hurdles. Now, she faces the mother of all hurdles – changing the mindset of the public about excellence in sports and studies.

Given her background, no hurdle is too high or too difficult for her.

THE STAR

Former Olympian Kamaruddin Maidin Dies Of Chronic Liver Ailment

KUALA TERENGGANU, April 19 (Bernama) -- Former Olympian Kamaruddin Maidin, 66, the first athlete from Terengganu to represent Malaysia in the 1960 Rome Olympics, died of a chronic liver ailment at 1.30pm today at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) here.

Kamaruddin who became the first Malaysian athlete to win five consecutive SEAP Games gold medals and two triple jump gold medals starting 1959, was earlier admitted to the HSNZ Intensive Care Unit nine days ago when his condition deteriorated and till yesterday he was in a coma.

He leaves behind wife, Rajemah Sheikh Ahmad, also an athlete and 1966 Asian Games bronze medal winner (4x100m), and six children, all boys.

His son Kamarezuan, 37, said all family members were by his side when he passed away.

"The funeral will be held at our home in Permint Jaya, Chendering and he will be buried at the Sheikh Ibrahim Muslim Cemetery after Asar prayers today," he told Bernama here today.

Kamaruddin, a triple and long jump champion was among three Malaysians, the other two being Dr M Jegathesan and Dr Shaharudin Ali, who represented the country in the Rome Olympics.

The outspoken Kamaruddin who had groomed numerous athletes in the state and national level throughout his 50 odd years in athletics, had been suffering from a liver ailment since 2003 and had received treatment at the Ampang Puteri Hospital, Kuala Lumpur the same year.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim said Kamaruddin's demise was a great loss to athletics, especially in Terengganu, as he had been actively involved in the sport even when he was suffering from his ailment.

"He was a great athlete, always dedicated, committed and stood up for athletes when they were in trouble. With his vast knowledge in athletics, he was like an athletics institution," said Karim.

Yesterday, National Athlete Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) executive chairman Datuk Mumtaz Jaafar had also visited Kamaruddin at HSZN.

Rajemah who is currently the Terengganu Amateur Athletic Association (POAT) secretary had yesterday expressed her disappointment because though her husband had served the nation as an athlete and official all these years, nobody from the National Sports Council or state sports council had visited him when his was in the hospital for nine days.

-- BERNAMA

Karmaruddin Maidin of Malaya won a gold medal during the field events on the third day of the first SEAP Games at Bangkok, 15 Dec 1959

Kamaruddin Maidin making his 24 ft long jump at Merdeka Stadium July 1961