Renowned Malaysian pianist and composer Datuk Wong Yew Yin passed away yesterday at Kuala Lumpur General Hospital at the age of 86.
According to a report by Bernama, Datuk Irwan, chairman of the Malaysian Artistes’ Welfare Foundation (YKAT), learned of the sad news through a phone call from Wong’s wife, Datin Khoo Lian Chee.
Irwan expressed that Wong’s funeral would be held at Nirvana Memorial Park in Shah Alam and described his death as a significant loss to Malaysia’s music industry.
“The deceased had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and could not remember anything,” Irwan added. He also noted that the foundation had been providing financial assistance of RM500 per month to Wong since last year.
In addition, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil posted on X (formerly Twitter) to extend his condolences to Wong’s family, stating, “His contributions to the development and progress of the local music industry will always be remembered.”
Wong Yew Yin rose to prominence between the 1960s and 1980s, earning the title of a national treasure as both a pianist and composer. Throughout his career, he composed songs for iconic local artists such as Datuk Sudirman, Alleycats, and Hong Kong singer Frances Yip. He was also honored with the Datuk title by the Penang Governor.
In 2015, Wong was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and in 2022, his son Wong Jin Cheng, who had a brain tumor, passed away after contracting COVID-19.
