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Rojak Librarian

The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. I wrote many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the early pioneers buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and birdwatching.

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Tan Cheng Yong (Bukit Brown)

January 16, 2025

Block 3 Division 7 Family - Tan Kim Tian

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Miss Helen Lee (Bukit Brown)

January 15, 2025

Block 4 Div A Died Young Hill 4

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Madam Teo Cheo Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 15, 2025

Block 4 Div A Hill 4

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Mrs. Wee Kiong Hoon (Bukit Brown)

January 15, 2025

Bukit Brown Pauper Section 3 Section 9

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Madam Tan Kepok (Mandai Columbarium)

January 14, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

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Lim Chin Kiat and Ong Siok Hay (Bukit Brown)

January 14, 2025

Block 1 Division F Bukit Brown Hill 1

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Madam Lim Bee Neo and Lee Siew Fong (Mandai Columbarium)

January 12, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

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Wee Chim Yean revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 12, 2025

exhumed Family - Wee Boon Teng former Bukit Brown cemetery Kapitan Cina Mandai Columbarium

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Ho Siak Kuan cluster revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed Family - Ho Siak Kuan former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

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Tan Huck Khong revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

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Poh Cheng Tee and family revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

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Newspaper mentions (2024 - Heng San Teng Boundary Marker)

January 04, 2025

Boundary Marker Heng San Teng newspaper mentions

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Labels

Bukit Brown960
Hill 3317
Hill 1185
Hill 4165
Died Young142
decorative tiles134
Block 3 Div D130
Block 4 Div A115
Hill 297
Block 3 Div B86

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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

Archive

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2005 45
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Popular Post

Ho Siak Kuan cluster revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

Before Bukit Brown cemetery changed forever due to construction of the Lornie Highway, a cluster of tombs catches your eye as you passed through the gates of Bukit Brown and walk pass the roundabout. It is the wonderful unique landmark of chinese-style roofing that bears a story of a Singapore pioneer by the name of Mr. Ho Siak Kuan (何式均), (1846-1946), M.B.E., C.H. . He was the Chief Chinese Translator for the Straits Settlement Government and Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs and the tomb cluster included his 2 wives and his son, Dr. Ho Siak Khun, who was buried in an adjacent tomb with chinese-style roofing as well. Another landmark use to exist nearby the cluster too, which was the former Bukit Brown cemetery temple but the temple was already demolished (year unknown) by time i visited Bukit Brown cemetery around 2010. Fortunately photos of the temple of that survived. Today while exploring the niches at Mandai Columbarium, i came across this niches which...

Madam Lim Bee Neo and Lee Siew Fong (Mandai Columbarium)

One of the unique ceramic portraits i seen while exploring Bukit Brown was of Madam Lim Bee Neo ( (梁門林氏) was passed away at the age of 76 on 21 February 1941. She is seen sitting down with a lovely smile on a chair in a studio shoot. If you look closely at her feet, it is very likely she has bounded feet . Her tomb in Block 5 is no longer in Bukit Brown as it was one of the many affected by Lornie Highway with the LTA stake number 1114. Next to her tomb is her daughter-in-law, Madam Lee Siew Fong who passed away at the age of 43 on 29th June 1949. Her LTA stake number was 1115. Madam Lim Bee Neo (photo taken on 31 December 2013) I was told both tombs have been claimed by descendants. Fast forward to 2025, i finally got a glimpse of their next resting place, sharing a niche in Mandai Columbarium. Madam Lee Siew Fong and her mother-in-law Madam Lim Bee Neo Madam Lee Siew Fong and her mother-in-law Madam Lim Bee Neo Madam Lim Bee Neo (age 76, died on...

Wee Chim Yean revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

Wee Chim Yean / Oei Chim Yean was one of the few chinese pioneers that was buried in Bukit Brown with this Kapitan Cina title in Bukit Brown. The others were: Tan Kim Ching (Kapitan Cina -Singapore) Wee Boon Teng (Majoor Titulair de Chinezen - Selat Panjang) Tan Sin Kiat (Kapitien de Chinezen - Singkep) Unfortunately, Wee Chim Yean's beautiful tomb was also one of the many that was also affected by the construction of Lornie Highway. His LTA stake number was 1838. From his niche at Mandai Columbarium, i finally got a glimpse of his portrait for the first time and additional crucial information about his family were fortunately etched there as well: Wife: Gan Lan Eng Daughters: Wee Siew Neo, Wee Siew Cheng, Wee Siew Geok Kapitan Cina of Bengkalis Sumatra Wee Chim Yean (1885-1926) was the Capitan China or Kapitan China of Bengkalis or Kapiten de Chinezen - Bengkalis . Bengkalis is a place is the Riau archipelago off east coast Sumatra...

Poh Cheng Tee and family revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

Mr. Poh Cheng Tee, Madam Low Hay Kee (wife) and Madam Quah Kim Neo (mother) used to buried in Bukit Brown at Block 1 Division A but were eventually removed due to the Lornie highway construction. Their LTA stake numbers were 1017-1019. We rediscovered their next resting place in Mandai Columbarium whole exploring there. It was a fortunate encounter as from their niches i can see their photos (Mr. and Mrs. Poh Cheng Tee) which was not available on their original tomb. Poh Cheng Tee Mrs. Poh Cheng Tee nee Madam Low Hay Kee Madam Quah Kin Neo (mother of Poh Cheng Tee In Sir Song's book, 100 years of Chinese in Singapore, Poh Cheng Tee was described as an enterprising young man with good business aptitude and also a liberal supporter of Straits Chinese educational institutions. In 1902, Poh Cheng Tee worked for Huttehbach Bros & Co. The advertisement article described him putting up for lease, offices in No 6, 7 and 8 Malacca Street (that was occupied by Lat Pau ...

Ho Siak Kuan (Bukit Brown)

Ho Siak Kuan (Ho Sek Kuan ) (1865-1946) , M.B.E., C.H., was born in Canton and though of Teochew parentage, was educated in Cantonese. This was partly due to the fact his mother was Cantonese. (In in his retirement celebration, he spoke both in Cantonese and English). When arriving in Singapore, he studied in St. Andrew's Mission School and later Raffles Institution. His ability and skill in English in Chinese, impressed Mr William A. Pickering (the first Chinese Protector) so much that after Ho Siak Kuan left school, he was offered employment to enter Government service as a student interpreter. He eventually rose the ranks to become the Chief Chinese Translator. Ho Siak Kuan was not only the Chief Chinese Translator for the Straits Settlement Government, as a reward for his years of service he was given the title, Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs (also called as Assistant Protector of Chinese) during the time where the Secretary was Mr. D. Beatty. When Ho ...

Gan Eng Seng and family (Bukit Brown)

Gan Eng Seng was born in Malacca ( Melaka) in 1844. His Great Grandparents came from Sam-Toh, Fukien province. Born third in a family of 5, he had two elder sisters, Gan Gin Neo and Gan Guat Neo. He was the eldest son. His younger brother was Gan Eng Chye followed by the youngest sister, Gan Guan Neo. Born poor, he still was able to received some education, giving him the ability to read and write simple English. His father died when he was 16 years old. He then left for Singapore and was involved initially in a nutmeg business in a small scale. He went on to served under Guthrie and Co. Gan Eng Seng Chief Campradore, Gutherie and Co. Thomas Scott, a partner of Gutherie, offered Gan Eng Seng a job in the godown at Coller Quay as a clerk and it was there he climbed up the ranks, from an Assistant Storekeeper to Chief Storekeeper and finally the Chief Campradore of Guthrie and Company after 13 years of service. He was the Chief Compradore for 25 years till he died in 1899. ...

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th...

Lim Chong Pang and Madam Chia Meow Moey

The story of Lim Chong Pang having a second wife by the name of Madam Chia Meow Moey was recounted to me before back in 2013. This story came up partly due to a misleading article which wrote to say that that Mr. Lim Nee Soon's as well as Lim Chong Pang male bloodline ended with the passing of Mr. Alvin Lim (The New Paper on 11 Nov 2009). This was the impetus which led to the second family of Lim Chong Pang coming out to correct this error that was reported. So the report about Lim Chong Pang having a second family in itself wasn't new and was published in The New Paper before. Fast forward to 1 9 March 2023, Lianhe Zaobao reports that Madam Chia Meow May celebrated her 100 birthday ! Wedding Picture of Lim Chong Pang and Madam Chia Meow Moey (source: Lianhe Zaobao) 1944 Certificate of Marriage between Lim Chong Pang and Chia Meow Moey (source: Roots.sg) In 17 October 1944, Lim Chong Pang married Miss Chia Meow Moey (Moya), second daughter of Mr and Mrs Chia Hock C...

Miss Teo Geok Neo (Lao Sua)

We came across the tomb of Miss Teo Geok Neo during our hike in Lao Sua in June / July 2024. There was a sign next to it. Usually from experience, we guessed that this is a sign that the descendants have reconnected with her and wish for her to "move house" (exhumed) and placed together with her fellow love ones. Miss Teo Geok Neo / Annie Teo Geok Neo passed away at the age of 28 on 3 November 1952. She unfortunately passed away due to either pneumonia or tuberculosis. Miss Teo Geok Neo (photo courtesy of Engsoon Tan) A young Miss Teo Geok Neo with her mother, Mrs. Tan Piah Eng nee Madam Chan Ah Siew (source: Engsoon Tan) Miss Teo Geok Neo tomb in Lao Sua before she "moved house" Fast forward to September 2024, i manage to see pictures of her tomb posted by a nephew of Miss Teo Geok Neo under the moniker of Our Bedok Kampong House - Singapore on Bukit Brown facebook group ! What amazing coincidence and the black and white documentation of photos was of her tomb...

Tan Swee Hoe and family (Batu Pahat)

Sometime back in August 2012, i wrote an article about Tan Swee Hoe who is buried in Bukit Brown. Tan Swee Hoe came to Singapore as a young boy and worked his way up, eventually becoming one of founders of Ho Hong Bank, and later a director of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) after it merged with it. He was also for two terms, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Batu Pahat, shareholder of Ho Aik Steamships. Tan Swee Hoe was a member of the Council of State, Johore and received a title S.M.J (Setia Mahkota Johore) from the government of Johore in 1929 for his contributions. He owned several property in Singapore and Batu Pahat. Tan Swee Hoe In January 2014, i was fortunate to make a trip with like minded friends to Batu Pahat to visit one of the properties he owned as well as a temple he contributed too and finally the grave of his son. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion First on my wishlist was Tan Swee Hoe's mansion on 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pah...

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