KUALA LUMPUR: Former national hammer thrower M. Dattaya died after a brief illness in Melbourne on Tuesday.
Dattaya, who was a freelance journalist with the New Straits Times in the 1980s, died at his daughter's house.
Dattaya, also a respected rugby player and footballer, won the hammer throw event at the 1971 (SEAP) 1973 (SEAP), and 1979 Sea Games.
He was also a silver medallist at the 1965 and 1967 SEAP Games.
Former Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) president Datuk A. Vaithilingam said: "He used to train in Taiping and was selected to represent the Survey Department before throwing for his district, state, and finally the national team.
"He was among the best hammer throwers in the region.
"I first saw him participating in the 1950s when I used to organise track and field competitions.
"He also played rugby for Perak. He was friendly and jovial," Vaithilingam added.
Vaithilingam was the team manager for Malaysia's 1973 Singapore SEAP Games athletics team when Dattaya won the hammer gold medal.
"During the Games, Ghenda Singh, also from Perak, was his biggest rival, and they never spoke until after the event.
"The rivalry was intense, but outside the arena, they were good friends," he said.
Former Asian Games gold medallist in javelin, Nashatar Singh, said he lost a good friend who had contributed to the nation as an athlete.
"I do not know what he died of. I received the news from one of my Whatsapp groups comprising former national athletes.
"All I know is that he was wheelchair-bound for the past three years. I last contacted him last year," said the 85-year-old Nashatar.
Besides achieving hammer throw success in the Sea Games, Dattaya also won several medals in discus throw at international meets.