Senator Guan Dee Koh Hoi, who is also Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR Sabah) secretary-general, died at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital at 4.50pm today. He was 67.

“We are sad to inform you that Senator Guan Dee Koh Hoi passed away at 4.50pm, October 26, 2021 at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Let us all together pray for him and his family,” the STAR Sabah said in a statement on its Facebook page today. 

Guan Dee was sworn in as a senator on December 16, 2020, and made deputy tourism, arts and culture minister on April 16 last year before the Cabinet was dissolved after Muhyiddin Yassin resigned as prime minister on August 16.

Meanwhile, STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan said Guan Dee had gone to Kuala Lumpur to attend the Perikatan Nasional meeting on Sunday evening but failed to attend after testing positive for Covid-19.

Kitingan said Guan Dee was admitted to hospital at 5am earlier today after complaining of chest pains.

“He was my most loyal ally and my dearest friend. He has been with me through thick and thin. Even when I had nothing, he never left as my aide. It would be very difficult to replace him,” he said in a statement.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, meanwhile, said Guan Dee was among the founding figures in the establishment of Perikatan Nasional and had contributed a lot to the country and the party.

Muhyiddin described him as a humble and diligent person in building the party not only in Sabah but also at the national level.

“Guan Dee’s passing is a great loss for Perikatan Nasional and the entire country, especially the state of Sabah. I express my condolences to his entire family and hope they will be strong in facing this sad situation,” he said in a statement today. – Bernama, October 26, 2021.