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