He died in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, yesterday of pneumonia.
PETALING JAYA: Veteran lifestyle and fashion journalist Kee Hua Chee died of pneumonia in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, yesterday.
The news was first shared by event organiser Mi-Ki Choong, one of Kee’s close friends, in a posting on her Facebook page.
“It is with a really heavy heart that I have been tasked to make a formal announcement on the passing of a dear good friend, the late Datuk Kee Hua Chee. He left us on March 24 at 11.45am.
“His extended family will be cremating him today and his ashes will be placed along with that of his father in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, where he was born and raised,” she said.
Being a prominent figure in the fashion and lifestyle scene over the last three decades, Kee’s death has shaken the entertainment industry in Malaysia.
Celebrities shared their condolences on social media. Host and actress Daphne Iking said Kee was an eccentric person, who made a statement with his fashion sense and “took flamboyance to another level”.
“My condolences to his family and friends who will surely miss him. Rest well, Kee. Continue to colour everyone’s life in the afterlife.”
Fashion industry veteran Gillian Hung said Kee was the most colourful and eccentric person she had known.
Kee began his journalism career in the 1970s and later went on to be a freelance writer for several well-known magazines and newspapers.
He helped organise and promote fashion shows, award ceremonies and beauty pageants in Malaysia.
He excelled in celebrity interviews and was a well-known figure among socialites.
Source: Free Malaysia Today