News of her passing broke on Twitter and media sources past midnight on Wednesday (early Thursday).
Nominated Member of Parliament and actress Janice Koh tweeted: "We have lost a beautiful actress and one of our most talented performers & singers tonight. Rest in peace, my dear Emma. Miss you..."
Fellow thespian Neo Swee Lin also posted on Twitter: "RIP darling Emma. Angels bear you aloft. Our performing family has lost one of our greatest talents."
Yong had suffered a relapse of stomach cancer last last year. She pulled out of a Christmas performance, Crazy Christmas, just two days before its opening.
She was first diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach cancer in January 2011. Tumours were found all over her spine, womb, pelvis and kidney.
But she underwent chemotheraphy and managed to put the cancer into remission.
By July, she was back on stage performing Dream Academy's production of the Stephen Sondheim musical, Into The Woods.
However she had a relapse in September just as she began rehearsals for Crazy Christmas.
Yong decided to go ahead with rehearsals while undergoing chemotherapy, but her condition worsened and her doctor told her that she needed a "more aggressive chemotherapy course", The Straits Times had reported.
There was an outpouring of condolence messages from netizens on Twitter late Wednesday night as news of her passing spread.
Many mourned the loss of one of Singapore's finest stage actresses.
Actor Tay Ping Hui tweeted: "Singapore's has lost one of its most talented actress tonight. Emma Yong, the legacy you left behind continues to inspire us. Rest in Peace."
Yong was most familiar with local audiences as one-third of the musical comedy act, Dim Sum Dollies, along with Selena Tan and Pamela Oei.
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