Malaysian woman, 22, alleges years of abuse in final letter shared after cancer death

 SARAWAK, MALAYSIA: A handwritten letter written by a 22-year-old woman before her death has triggered widespread discussion across Malaysia, after her family alleged that it detailed years of abuse and neglect within her household.

The woman, identified as Wang Qiuyue, died in the early hours of 18 January at Sibu Hospital after battling cancer, according to information shared by her family on social media.

In the days following her death, Wang’s younger sister published what she described as Wang’s final letter to their father.

The post quickly circulated online and drew strong public reactions.

According to the sister, the letter was made public in line with Wang’s final wishes. She said Wang hoped her experiences would be acknowledged and that others would understand what she had endured.

“This is a letter my sister personally wrote to our father before she passed away,” the sister wrote in an accompanying post. “We are sharing it according to her wishes.”

Allegations of long-term abuse

In the letter, Wang alleged that she and her siblings had suffered long-term physical and emotional abuse from their father and stepmother, claims that have not been independently verified.

She wrote that she rarely communicated with her father through letters, describing the note as possibly the “last letter” of her life.

Wang questioned whether her father had ever truly cared for his children, stating that after she returned home from cancer treatment in Kuala Lumpur, she was subjected to mistreatment by her stepmother.

She alleged that her father did not intervene and instead remained silent, which she said caused her deep emotional pain and a sense of abandonment.

The letter also described Wang’s distress after learning that her cancer had relapsed and spread. She claimed that her father repeatedly discussed funeral arrangements while she was still alive.

According to Wang, these conversations left her feeling as though her life was already being dismissed. She questioned whether her father and stepmother wished for her death.

Reflections before death

In the closing sections of the letter, Wang expressed hope that her father would one day understand why his children, and other relatives, had grown distant from him.

She urged him to reflect on his actions and consider whether the consequences of his decisions had been worth it.

The letter ended on a sombre note, expressing emotional exhaustion and a desire for her suffering to be understood, according to excerpts shared online.

At the time of the letter’s release, no response had been issued by Wang’s father or stepmother. The allegations remain unverified.

Sister claims letter was rejected

In a Facebook post dated 21 January 2026, Wang’s sister provided further details about the decision to make the letter public.

She wrote that the family had previously attempted to give the handwritten letter to their father, but claimed that he refused to accept it and may never have read its contents.

The sister said Wang did not pass away peacefully but was no longer in pain. She described Wang as a caring elder sister whose final wish was to protect her younger siblings from similar experiences.

“She did not want her younger siblings to suffer the same pain she went through,” the post stated, adding that making the letter public was part of fulfilling Wang’s final instructions.

Claims involving police response

The sister also alleged that Wang had previously sought help from the police. According to her account, Wang reported the matter but was questioned on which legal provisions should be invoked.

She claimed that the police eventually called their father in for questioning and issued a warning, but no further action was taken.

Following that incident, the sister alleged that the family’s treatment of Wang worsened, with actions she described as increasingly hostile.

Among the claims were incidents involving the removal of household items, including a bed and cooking equipment, and demands that Wang sleep on the floor.

The sister questioned why such actions were taken against Wang despite her terminal illness, writing that her sister had already been living with limited time.

Police confirm report filed by deceased, investigation ongoing under Child Act

On 22 January, Sibu district police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili confirmed that police had received a report filed earlier by Wang on 9 December 2025, alleging family abuse dating back to 2013.

According to local media, he said police had opened an investigation file and recorded statements from the complainant and relevant individuals to establish the facts. 

The case is being investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001, which carries penalties of up to RM50,000 in fines, up to 20 years’ imprisonment, or both upon conviction.

Police are also examining the widely circulated handwritten letter and urged the public not to speculate or spread unverified information, stressing that investigations are being conducted in a thorough, transparent and professional manner.

Videos and photographs released

Wang’s sister aslo published another Facebook post, saying she found videos, photos and WhatsApp messages while sorting through Wang’s belongings.

She said the materials were discovered on Wang’s phone and in conversations with a woman in Kuala Lumpur who had previously provided Wang with shelter during her treatment.

According to the sister, the materials were not released for publicity or emotional expression, but to demonstrate that the letter’s allegations were not baseless.

She described the released items as only a fraction of what was documented but said they were sufficient to show Wang’s living conditions at the time.

Description of released materials

The sister outlined several items included in the release. One photograph was described as a handwritten warning note from the stepmother, allegedly instructing the siblings not to use the toilet.

A video was said to show the stepmother entering their room without permission while the siblings were away from home.

Another video allegedly recorded at around 6am showed the stepmother and father removing kitchen utensils and gas cylinders from a residence where Wang was temporarily staying.

A further video, recorded on the day of the Winter Solstice festival, was said to show the stepmother throwing away breakfast prepared by Wang.

The sister said this video was secretly recorded by Wang and sent to a trusted elder in Kuala Lumpur, and that it later caused conflict within the household.

The sister stressed that the materials represented only “the tip of the iceberg” but supported the emotional suffering described in Wang’s letter.

She said the family hoped the public would view the materials rationally and make their own judgement, rather than treating the issue as online sensationalism.

“We only hope the facts are seen and not easily denied,” the post stated, adding that no child should have to endure illness and family mistreatment at the same time.