KUCHING: The state lost a star athlete on Sunday when legendary bodybuilder Bujang Taha, twice Mr Asia, passed away at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) due to complications from mouth and lung cancer.
The late Bujang’s wife Norsanah Harun pours scented water over his grave.
The veteran muscleman breathed his last at 10.47 pm, having being admitted to SGH medical ward about a week earlier for acute asthma attack, according to daughter-in-law Suzana Ibrahim.
Fellow national body building great Malek Noor was among those who paid tribute to the late Bujang.
“Bujang Taha should be recognised accordingly from the government in light of his contribution to Sarawak and Malaysia in the world stage. He had done the country proud.
“If I have received my recognition, why is it that he has yet to be accorded any recognition until today?
“I hope the state government would accord him at least with the title ‘Datuk’ for his contribution to the sport, his state and country,” the six-time Asian heavyweight champion Datuk Malek Noor told a press conference after Bujang’s funeral service at Semariang Muslim Cemetery yesterday.
Malek, representing the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb), was among more than 100 people who paid their last respects to the bodybuilding great. He also presented a cheque amounting to RM11,000 to the family. Bujang was a member of Yakeb.
Malek who knew the late Bujang in 1985, described the late Mr Asia champion as a friendly and good hearted person.
“We were like brothers. Everytime we meet, he would say to me: ‘Malek, abang sayang kamu’ (Malek, I love you),” he recalled, while adding that when the late Bujang performed his pilgrimage in 2010, Yakeb helped to pay for his expenses. The association also lend a helping hand when his house was razed in a fire in 2011.
Assistant Youth Development Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Tourism Minister Datuk Talib Zulpilip and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman were among the state dignitaries who paid their last respects at Bujang’s home at Kampung Tanjong, Petra Jaya near here.
Bujang was trained by Hamdan Yusuf at Masjid Bintangor Haji Taha Club when he first joined the sport and went on to compete and win Mr Kuching in 1971 and achieved third place in Mr Sarawak two years later.
In 1975, he represented the state in Mr Malaysia where he won the Master Category. He was Mr Asean in 1980 before winning the prestigious Mr Asia in 1980 and 1981, earning him the Ahli Bintang Sarawak (ABS) state award in 1982.
Bujang also won a gold medal at the 1975 SEA Games and a silver at the 1982 Asian Games. He was named Sarawak’s Sportsman of the Year in 1981 and 1989. He left behind 10 children, 35 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Bujang was laid to rest at 2.45 pm. He was 77.