Jonah’s mark of 17.66m in the second attempt saw him clinch the gold medal and smash the 14-year-old Games record of 17.31m set by Terengganu’s Adi Aliffudin Husin during the 2010 Games in Melaka.

It was the first gold medal for hosts Sarawak in athletics.

Speaking to reporters, he admitted he was a little upset because his injury hindered his attempt to better his national record of 17.89m.

“I had really wanted to surpass 18m but this is the best for now. I can’t take the risk because I still have two more events after this – the discus and the hammer throw.

“It’s disappointing. Gold is a positive result but in terms of my performance, I feel a little disappointed,” said the 21-year-old athlete.

Jonah will compete in the discus event on Wednesday while the hammer throw event is scheduled for Friday.

The event’s silver medal was won by Pang Hong Seng from Sabah who registered a throw of 14.38m while Kelantan’s Wan Irfan Wan Tahar had to settle for bronze after recording 13.83m.

Perak also secured their first medal from athletics when Shah Solihin Azshar leapt a distance of 15.41m to sweep the gold medal in the triple jump, followed by Izzul Haniff Raffi from Selangor (14.96m) and Sabah’s Eljoe Gotuoh (14.71m).

Selangor claimed their second gold medal in athletics through Esther Joy Hong in the women’s 5,000m with a time of 19:33.12s, followed by Perak’s Margreat Mary K Johnson (19:42.15s) and Tan Zhi Lin (19:51.46s) in second and third.

Meanwhile, Johor’s mixed 4x400m quartet bagged the gold after recording a time of 3:32.67s, followed by Sabah in second place (3:35.65s) and Perak in third (3:37.94s).