THE Police by reclassifying the death of Taiwanese social media influencer Hsieh Yun Hsin, 31, as a murder case, with investigators now focusing on controversial filmmaker and singer Wee Meng Chee, better known as Namewee, 42, who was reportedly the last person seen with the victim.
Hsieh was found dead, lying in a bathtub in the bathroom of a hotel room along Jalan Conlay at about 1.40pm on 22 October, two days after arriving in Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said the case, initially classified as a sudden death report (SDR), had been reopened under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder following further investigations.
“Investigations are ongoing from all angles, including the movements of the individual last seen with the victim,” he told reporters at a crime prevention event co-organised by the Federal Territories Islamic Education Institute at the Kuala Lumpur Police Headquarters on Tuesday.
“We are reviewing all movements of the victim and the suspect. God willing, an arrest will be made soon. The individual who was last with her will be detained to assist investigations, and from there, we will determine whether he is involved,” Fadil said.
He added that police had already recorded statements from hotel staff and security personnel and were examining surveillance footage tracing the victim’s movements from the airport to the hotel.
“The victim arrived in Malaysia on 20 October and was scheduled to return home on 24 October. We are still awaiting the autopsy and toxicology reports. Any further developments, including possible arrests, will be announced in due course,” he said, appealing for members of the public with information to come forward.
It was earlier reported that Namewee had been in the same hotel room with the victim when the incident occurred. He was subsequently detained by police on suspicion of drug possession and use.
Fadil confirmed that, following the reclassification of the case as murder, Namewee will be questioned in greater depth and may face arrest.
The victim’s body has been sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) for post-mortem examination as investigations continue. - November 4, 2025