ALOR SETAR: The Star's veteran sports stringer Dasheer Noh, passed away aged 83 at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here at 7.45am on Saturday (June 26).

       His daughter, Hana Fazlina Dasheer, 43, a lawyer, told The Star at 4.30am that her father was in critical condition.

       She thanked everyone for their concern for her father.

       She said Dasheer, known to his friends as Pak Tam, was warded at the hospital earlier but no visitors were allowed.

       "He did not pass away due to Covid-19," she said.

       Pak Tam leaves behind his wife Mashitah Othman, 77, three children and five grandchildren.

       "My father was a good man and father.

       "He was generous and always helped anyone in need," Hana said.

       She said her father was active in hockey, badminton and cricket and was a licensed umpire for hockey and badminton.

       The Star's chief news editor Paul Gabriel said he knew Dasheer well during his time as Kedah/Perlis bureau chief back in the 1990s.

       He said that although Dasheer had a full-time job at the state secretariat, he remained passionate about stringing for The Star.

       "Because of his dual role, he had to put in long hours but never complained. In fact, he offered to do more.

       "He was well-liked among state government officials, sports authorities and also sportsmen for his vast knowledge and humility," said Gabriel.

       Loganath Velloo, The Star's former sports desk sub-editor in Petaling Jaya said: "He was passionate about sports and was involved in various capacities, both as an official and a journalist."

       Loganath got to know him in 2002 when he was the sports journalist in Penang until Pak Tam retired a stringer in 2015.

       Pak Tam's body was brought to the Derga Mosque Muslim cemetery for burial at about 11am on Saturday.