A young Malaysian actor beloved for his childhood role as “Guo Guo” in the hit local film Ge Mei Lia 48 has died at the age of 25, leaving fans and industry friends devastated.
Yap Tze Cheng, who starred in the live-action adaptation of Eddie See Yew Lee’s (徐有利) iconic comic series, passed away on Monday (Dec 8). His family confirmed the news through an online funeral notice, describing him as someone “deeply loved” and remembered for his warmth and kindness.
A three-day wake is being held in Shah Alam, with the funeral set for tomorrow (Dec 11).
Eddie See, the creator of Ge Mei Lia, shared an emotional tribute on social media, admitting he struggled to accept the loss. He reminisced about Yap’s growth from a bright, cheerful child actor into a young adult full of promise, recalling their attempts to reconnect over the years.
“Even though 10 years have passed since the film, fate somehow brought us back into each other’s lives,” he wrote.
“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 message by wishing Yap peace and saying he would never be forgotten.
News of Yap’s passing spread swiftly across social media, where fans of the film series reacted with shock and sadness. Many said they struggled to accept the loss of the child star they grew up watching, while others thanked him for bringing the beloved character “Guo Guo” to life.
