Malaysian men's 110m hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian’s appeal for a gold medal in the event at the 2019 SEA Games has been rejected by the Philippine SEA Games Organising Committee (PHISGOC).

The PHISGOC decided that the Philippines’ Clinton Kingsley Bautista remained the winner based on a reply from the Southeast Asia Athletics Association, whose opinion was sought following a protest by Malaysia.

Malaysia’s chef de mission Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin said the regional sports body had reviewed the photo finish involving Bautista and Rayzam Shah and they agreed with the competition technical officials’ decision to award the win to the naturalised Filipino.

Rayzam Shah and Clinton both clocked 13.97s in the race on Monday but the latter was adjudged the winner, which meant the Sabah-born athlete failed to retain the gold he won in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.

"They [PHISGOC] rejected the appeal because the medal presentation had concluded and, secondly, the photo finish showed the Filipino as the winner, and I have expected this [decision] from the beginning.

"That’s why the other day [involving Malaysian gymnast Izzah Amzan] I asked for the medal presentation to be deferred because I felt they would use this excuse,” he told reporters on Wednesday.