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.