PETALING JAYA: Former national cyclist Shaharudin Jaffar, who was instrumental to the sport’s national development, has died at 84.
He died at 2pm today at Shah Alam Hospital after suffering from heart, liver and intestinal problems several months ago.
Shaharudin was Malaysia’s first cyclist to win a gold medal at the 1965 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games (now known as the Southeast Asian Games) in Kuala Lumpur via the 800m mass start.
He was appointed secretary of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (PKBM) in 1970, when the organisation was facing a financial crisis.
PKBM experienced a turnaround during his time, making way for the emergence of new national cycling talents.
Shaharudin was inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia’s hall of fame in 2008.
He will be buried at the Muslim cemetery in Section 21, Shah Alam, at 9am tomorrow.