He began practising safe sex after hearing of the disease in 1986 or '87, but fell ill in 1995, two years after leaving Singapore Airlines.
He travelled to Brussels to begin receiving treatment unavailable in Singapore at the time, but by 1996 he had lost 45% of his weight and his health was failing rapidly.
Responding to the allegations, Chew retorted, "I do not mind being famous for winning the Miss Universe crown, or as a singer, or a beautiful face, you know?
At the end of each performance, Chew would strip to his shorts and raise his arms to allow the audience to take in his emaciated frame.
His health deteriorated rapidly, necessitating his admission to the Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) in Moulmein Road in June 1999, 2 months before his death.
At the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2015, artist Zihan Loo presented With/Out, a performance installation based on Chew's monologue Completely With/Out Character.
[7] Chew died at the CDC from complications of HIV infection at 6:15 a.m. on 21 August 1999,[8] three months after his play's run ended.
Chew's sister, who declined to be named, and Alvin Tan, the Artistic Director of The Necessary Stage were by his bedside.
Tan called the press to request for help in informing Chew's friends about his funeral service at 3:45 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Crematorium, Hall two.
Dance music played at Mount Vernon Crematorium's Hall Two and the mourners came dressed in red, blue, pink and orange.