KUALA LUMPUR — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh today paid tribute to the late Yap Shing Xuen by placing a Team MAS jersey at her resting place, as Malaysia continues to mourn the 16-year-old student’s tragic death.
Shing Xuen, a volleyball enthusiast who “lived an active life,” was killed after being stabbed, allegedly by a 14-year-old male schoolmate, at SMK Bandar Utama 4 in Petaling Jaya on October 14.
Her remains were cremated at the Nirvana Crematorium in Shah Alam, Selangor, following three days of prayers and tribute ceremonies that concluded last night.
In a post on Instagram, Hannah said she wanted to honour the teen’s passion for sports by including the national jersey at her final resting place.
“As the nation bids farewell to our young Shing Xuen today, KBS honoured her by placing our Team MAS jersey in her resting place,” Hannah wrote.
“I told Lee Ping, her mom, that I wanted her to have our national jersey and she said Shing Xuen would have loved it.
“Sending our deepest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family for their painful loss. Malaysia mourns with them.”
Hannah also pledged to address what she described as a growing “incel culture” among Malaysian youth in the wake of the tragedy.
“In the days to come, I will do whatever I can to fight the incel culture among the young,” she said.
The killing has shocked the nation and sparked public debate about school safety, gender-based violence, and the social influences shaping adolescent behaviour.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing. — October 20, 2025