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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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Showing posts from August, 2007

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Chek Jawa - Part II

August 16, 2007

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Chek Jawa revisited -Part I

August 16, 2007

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Sime Forest Butterflies

August 06, 2007

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Sime Forest Amphibians

August 06, 2007

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Labels

Bukit Brown969
Hill 3344
Hill 1194
Hill 4172
Died Young158
decorative tiles149
Block 3 Div D138
Block 4 Div A118
Hill 2100
Block 3 Div B99

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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)

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Popular Post

Cheah Kuan Oon (Kopi Sua)

Cheah Kuan Oon (謝寬溫) / Chia Kuan Oon is buried in the Hokkien Cemetery complex at Whitley Road colloquially known as Kopi Sua. From the tomb, you can see his name and the date of death, 6 July 1962 and the names of his children, Sons; Cheah Soon Seng, Cheah Poh Chwee Daughters; Cheah Cheng Siew, Cheah Siew Bee, Cheah Siew Choo . The obituary notice from newspaper archives (7th July 1962) list his age has 53 and the cortege left from 58 Jalan Chengkek and that he is survived by his wife, 2 sons, 3 daughters and 1 brother. However the very same obituary notice also states that Mr. Cheah Kuan Oon was originally supposed to be buried in Bulim Cemetery. This was not the first instance where the papers state the deceased in one cemetery while in fact the actual tomb was not located there. Cheah Kuan Oon Cheah Kuan Oon tomb at Kopi Sua There was announced of engagement between Mr. Cheah Kuan Oon (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Cheah Soo Tuan of 34, Acheen Street Penang) and ...

Wee Soon Eng (Bukit Brown)

The broken thick marble fragments caught my attention. Looking at the condition, i am not sure this is an exhumed tomb but rather something big must have damaged it in the past. Digging around the area of the headstone, some of the marble fragments contain lead etching and piecing those that had lead etching that together - i can make out the name of the person buried here. In memory of Mr. Wee Soon Eng Died 3rd August Age 32 From beneath the altar table of the heavily damaged tomb is the name of his child; Daughter Wee SeoKim 1240 A Wee Soon Eng Who is Wee Soon Eng ? From the newspaper archives if correct, Wee Soon Eng appears to be active football and Merrilads Association. There was even an engagement notice that mentions that the engagement is announced and marriage took place at the Ai Tong School on 20 December 1925 between Mr. Wee Soon Eng (5th son of the late Mr. Wee Kee Ann) to Miss. Lim Bee Neo (5th daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lim Quee Lim). Brother:...

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...

Ong Boon Tat (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Ong Boon Tat (1888-8 July 1941) is the son of Mr. Ong Sam Leong ). Born in Singapore in 1888, he studied in Raffles Institution and won a Guthrie Scholarship. Ong Boon Tat was a Justice of Peace and Municipal Commissioner for 5 years. He was the managing director of of New World Limited (New World Park) and a Director at Overseas Assurance Corporation (during the time where the Chairman was Mr. Lim Nee Soon ). In the early 1900's, a young Ong Boon Tat stepped into the offices of the Straits Times to apply for the position of shorthand reporter and did a good job of it during a time where the entire editorial team is made of Europeans. However his family business activities came calling and he had to leave. He however never lost interest and later in life became the director of the Malayan Tribune Press Ltd. As the head of the firm Ong Sam Leong and Co, who were the contractors for Christmas Island, he had to travel to Christmas Island to deal with workers unrest / riot the...

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 Paha...

Madam Wee Leong Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Wee Leong Neo passed away at the age of 96 on 26 August 1929 at Mr. Khoo Teng Leong's residence, No. 13 Shanghai Road. She leaves behind 1 daughter-in-law, Mrs. Tan Kim Kuan; 2 daughters, Mrs. Lim Pee Seng and Mrs. Wee Swee Boo of Medan; 14 grandsons, 12 granddaughters; 12 grandsons-in-law, 38 great grandsons, 24 great granddaughters, 4 great-grandsons-in-law, 5 great great grandchildren to mourn her loss (Penang and Medan papers please copy). From what i can gather, the names of her daughter are; Tan Siam Neo and Tan Ee Neo. Madam Wee Leong Neo Erected by her youngest daughter: Mrs. Wee Swee Boo Family Daughrer: Mrs. Wee Swee Boo nee Tan Ee Neo In 30 June 1917, Wee Swee Boo passed away due to injuries sustained after a motorcar mishap in Deli. The vehicle in which the Chinese Mayor of Deli, Khoo Hun Yeang and Wee Swee Boo were in collided with a carriage. Prominent Penang businessman Khoo Hun Yeang was killed. Mr. Wee Swee Boo returned to Singapore and he subseq...

Mrs. Tan Hum Ann nee Ee Joo Keow (Bukit Brown)

In an area recently cleared, we found this beautiful marble headstone but with one missing shoulder. It reads; Mrs. Tan Hum Ann nee Ee Joo Keow Born - 12th of Chinese 4th Moon 1862 Died - 11 October 1929 Aged 67 Rest in Peace On the shoulder still visible; Mourners - Grandson - Tan Tiang Seng Granddaughters - Tan Mary, Tan Besar, Tan Tengah It was unfortunate that part of the shoulder marble that is likely to contain the name of her son /daughters was missing. Fortunately from the newspaper archives, i was able to map the names of her children. At 74, Sims Avenue, off Lorong 19, Geylang, on 11 October 1929 - Mrs. Tan Hum Ann nee Ee Joo Keow, aged 67, beloved mother of; Tan Kang Hoe Tan Poh Tye Tan Siew Lock Mrs. Seow Eng Tiam Messrs. Tan Kang Hoe, Tan Poh Tye, Tan Siew Lock and Mrs. Seow Eng Tiam thanked relatives, freinds and member s of Eng Wah Kok, Bee Huat and Co., Miller Rubber Export Co., Bukom Chinese Club and Sepoy Lines Funeral Association for attending ...

Mrs. Neo Guan Beng nee Madam Tan Hay Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Tay Hay Neo passed away at the age of 66 on 4 November 1929. Her tomb with beautiful decorative tiles captures your attention but the marble headstone itself is very unique and rare to see in Bukit Brown with its unique organisation of font type as well as the hand carved peacocks ! Madam Tay Hay Neo / Mrs. Neo Guan Beng From her beautiful tomb of decorative tiles, the name of her children are as follows; Sons: Neo Soon Keng, Neo Soon Kim, Neo Soon Kiat, Neo Soon How, Neo Soon Kiang Daughters: Neo Cheng Neo Grandsons: Neo Hock Swee, Neo Hock Leng, Neo Hock Heng, Neo Hock Kim Granddaughters: Neo Swee Neo, Neo Ah Loei, Neo Molly, Neo Janey, Neo Choo Neo Children of Madam Tay Hay Neo Husband: Neo Guan Beng The funny thing was that i was staring at this tomb so long thinking, i may have seen this tomb before. It was only after i went back i realise i wasn't too far off ! I discovered her husband's tomb, Neo Guan Beng - just recently in May 2025 ! Neo Guan Beng's tomb i...

A kidnap bid foiled in the Shaw family - Bukit Brown connection

This week's news was abuzz with first, the passing of Sir Run Run Shaw (CBE, GBM), the legendary movie mogul. He died on January 7, 2014, aged 107. He is survived by 2 sons ( Shaw Vee Meng, Shaw Vee Chung, Harold ), 2 daughters (Dorothy Shaw, Violet Shaw ) , 2 daughter-in-laws ( Josephine Kho, Diana Wee) and many grand and great grandchildren. His wife was Lady Lily Shaw (deceased ) and years after his first wife passing married Madam Mona Fong. The second news that captivated many Singaporean's was the kidnap attempt of a 79 year old woman, Madam Eng Lai Poh. She is the mother of Mr Lim Hock Chee, Chief Executive of public listed company Sheng Siong, a supermarket chain. The ransom sought by the kidnappers was $20 million. Mr. Lim Hock Chee called the police who helped tracked down the kidnappers and caught the suspects. Bukit Brown connection to Shaw and kidnapping You may be wondering how this week's two story is related to Bukit Brown? Rewind back to October...

Funeral of Mrs. Lim Ie Ging nee Madam Oei Khoen Nio at 13 Scotts Road

Mrs. Lim Ie Ging nee Oei Khoen Nio passed away at age of 62 at 13 Scotts Road on 9 June 1930. Oei Khoen Nio is the sister of Major Oei Tiong Ham. Thanks to Kwee Hongsien, i am able to get a glimpse of another rare picture of the funeral and hearse of the late Madam Oei Khoen Nio before it headed out to Bukit Brown. The photo was taken at the family residence in 13 Scotts Road. It is an amazing rich with details of the family members in mourning clothes as well as slight glimpse on the left of how the house at No. 13 Scotts Road look like. In the picture below, i can make out, Lim Ie Ging and their children, Dr. Albert Lim Liat Juay (1890-1970) , Dr. Harold Lim Liat Hin (1893-1973) , Lim Liat Boen (1896-1962) Funeral of Mrs. Lim Ie Ging nee Madam Oei Khoen Nio (photo courtesy of Kwee Hongsien) Family Photo The family photo below was likely taken in front porch of No. 13 Scotts Road with Mr. and Mrs Lim Ie Ging seated and surrounded by their children and grandchildren. This ...

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