BESUT: A former Terengganu boxer was found dead in his car parked along Jalan Jerteh-Kota Baharu at Kampung Padang Landak near here last night.

Salleh Awang, 46, of Kampung Simpang Tiga Che Mohid, Guntung Dalam, Setiu had represented Terengganu at championships organised by the Malaysian Amateur Boxing Association (Maba).

Besut police chief Supt Kamaruddin Mohd Zakaria said passers-by saw Salleh's car parked by the roadside at 5pm and thought he was just having a nap.

"However, a passer-by suspected something amiss at 7pm after seeing a man lying motionless in the car and reported to police," he said here today.

Salleh was running his own car rental business in Jerteh.

Initial police investigation revealed that Salleh died several hours earlier, believed due to breathing difficulty and heart problem.

Kamaruddin said the body was sent to Besut district hospital for a post-mortem at 10pm.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Amateur Boxing Association vice-president Kamarulzaman Ideris said Salleh was a promising boxer in the 1990s and had won gold medals at championships.

He described Salleh as a tough boxer feared by opponents as he had a strong punch in the 55kg category. -- Bernama