KUALA LUMPUR: The funeral of Kee Kok Thiam, a former aide of fugitive Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, was held earlier than the scheduled time Wednesday.

The funeral, scheduled at 10 am Wednesday, was held two hours early at 8 am to avoid the media.

Kee was cremated at the Kepong Crematorium at 8.30 am, which caught the media by surprise.

The media was prohibited from covering the funeral and photographers were scolded by Kee’s family members.

Photographers were also told to delete the pictures from their cameras.

Some of the relatives did not manage to send off Kee as they were not notified of the last-minute change of funeral time.

Kee was a former aide to Jho Low, the alleged mastermind behind the 1MDB and SRC International scandals.

He was believed to have arrived at KLIA at 3.30 am on May 3 following his deportation by the Macau government for alleged overstaying.

Legal firm Valen, Oh and Partners issued a press statement on behalf of Kee, who was arrested and subsequently released by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.