KUALA LUMPUR: The former camp commander of the national contingent preparing for major sporting events, Macklin Amzah, also fondly known as 'Uncle Mack', passed away early this morning. He was 74.

According to a statement from the National Sports Council (NSC), the former NSC officer from 1991-2014 and who was very close to the athletes during his time as camp commander, died at 1.06 am at the Serdang Hospital, Selangor.

"The deceased and his family were infected with COVID-19 before Aidilfitri. While he experienced other complications, his family members completed their quarantine at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) recently," it said.

According to the NSC, he was buried after 1pm today at the Bandar Tun Hussein Onn Cemetery, Cheras.

Former national hockey player, Iman Gobinathan Abdullah, in a post on his Facebook page, described the late Macklin as an individual who was very friendly with athletes, adding that he always felt happy and at ease when mingling with the deceased back then.

"Baris sedia, jangan bergerak. Kalau gerak, aku gigit telinga awak (Stand guard, don't move. If you move, I will bite your ear) - these were the words I always looked forward to hearing during the NSC national camps from 1997 to 2004 as an athlete from Mr Macklin aka Mack," he posted on his Facebook page.

The NSC also offered their condolences to the Macklin family on his passing.

"All NSC sports staff extend their condolences to the family of the deceased. May he be placed among the righteous," stated a post that was also uploaded on the NSC Facebook page.

The late Macklin had served as an army physical trainer and warrant officer of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) before working at the NSC as a fitness instructor and camp commander, which saw him heavily involved in running self-defence and nation-building programmes for national athletes.

-- BERNAMA