Joey, singer for rock group BPR, dies at 63
Translated from Malay and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- Joey, the lead singer of the popular Malaysian rock band Bumiputra Rockers (BPR), has died at the age of 63.
- He collapsed during a performance on Friday night and was rushed to Kuala Lumpur Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
- Joey was known for BPR's hits from the 1980s, including "Aku Hanya Serangga" and "Seribu Tahun Takkan Mungkin."
Joey, the charismatic frontman of the iconic Malaysian rock group Bumiputra Rockers (BPR), has died at the age of 63. His passing was announced by his wife, Zarinah Zainal, on Saturday, August 29, 2026.
Joey, whose real name was Johari Mat Rozekhi, collapsed on Friday night while performing at Laman Santai, Istana Budaya. He was immediately rushed to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) by ambulance. Doctors at the hospital confirmed he had suffered a hemorrhage and had complications from a blocked artery. He passed away at 8:11 AM on Saturday.
Assalamualaikum w.b.t. I, the wife of Johari Mat Rozekhi (Joey BPR), wish to inform that Johari has returned to God's mercy at 8:11 AM this morning at HKL hospital. Let us all offer al-Fatihah for the deceased.
His wife described the events as happening very quickly and expressed her fortune in having been married to him. "Joey was a very good person. I was lucky to have him," she wrote on Facebook, requesting prayers for his soul.
Joey managed to sing two songs before collapsing. His death is considered a significant loss to Malaysia's music industry, particularly the rock scene. BPR rose to prominence in the 1980s, becoming one of the country's most popular rock bands with hits like "Aku Hanya Serangga," "Dari Sinar Mata," and "Seribu Tahun Takkan Mungkin."
The incident happened too quickly. Joey was a very good person. I was lucky to have him. Please offer al-Fatihah for him.
Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.