KOTA KINABALU: Activist and indigenous peoples' human rights advocate Edlyn Beverly Joeman has lost her battle with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Known as Bev Joeman to her friends and acquaintances, the 56-year-old breathed her last at 12.23pm on Monday (Sept 7) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital here.
According to family members, her remains will be at the Agut Jubili Lighthouse Parlour until her funeral mass on Wednesday (Sept 9).
There will also be daily prayers until Sunday (Sept 13), the seventh day after her passing.
The former Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) vice chairman for Sabah had been fighting cancer since June and underwent chemotherapy before her situation worsened.
She had been on life support for the past month.
Bev also held various posts with other humanitarian non-governmental organisations.
Bersih shared a statement over her passing, expressing its sympathies.
"We are deeply saddened to hear the passing of our dear friend, Beverly Joeman, this afternoon.
"Beverly was a former vice-chairperson (Sabah) of Bersih and a human rights advocate who dedicated herself to defending the rights and dignity of indigenous people in Malaysia," it said.
Bersih said her courage, compassion and commitment to justice had a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside her.
"Our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace," it added.
