A young Malaysian actor who once played “Guo Guo” in the popular local film Ge Mei Lia 48 has passed away at the age of 25, leaving fans and colleagues stunned by the sudden news.
Yap Tze Cheng, who starred in the live-action adaptation written and illustrated by Malaysian cartoonist Eddie See Yew Lee (徐有利), was confirmed to have died on Monday (Dec 8).
His family shared a funeral notice online, describing him as someone “deeply loved” and remembered for his warmth and kindness.
The wake will be held over three days in Shah Alam, with the funeral scheduled for tomorrow (Dec 11).
Artist heartbroken by news
See, the artist behind the Ge Mei Lia, took to social media to express his grief, saying he struggled to accept the news of Yap’s passing.
He recalled their last conversation and their attempts to reconnect over the years, sharing how Yap had grown from a cheerful child actor into a young adult with a bright future ahead.
Even though 10 years have passed since the film, fate somehow brought us back into each other’s lives.
“It hurts to know the boy who played ‘Guo Guo’ is gone. You will always be the real-life Guo Guo in my heart.”
See ended his tribute by wishing Yap a peaceful journey, saying he would always be remembered.
Fans react with disbelief
News of Yap’s passing quickly spread across social media, with many fans of the film series expressing shock that the child star they grew up watching is no longer here.
Some wrote that they “couldn’t accept” the news, while others thanked him for bringing the beloved character to life.
