Kwek Mui Seng and family (Bukit Brown)

Kwek Mui Seng / Quek Mui Seng passed away at the age of 57 on 6th June 1934. Quek Mui Seng is the romanised name listed on his tomb while Kwee Mui Seng is the name you will find in the burial registrar. To make it a bit more complicated, in the newspaper archives where he was once a partner and later sole Proprietor of Aik Leong & Co. his name was spelt as Kwek Moey Seng.

Kwek Mui Seng and Madam Lim Sam Neo

 

From the tomb, Quek Mui Seng passed away on 6th June 1934, while his wife is Madam Lim Sam Neo died on Kee Sin Year, 11th Month 6th day. 

From the tomb;

Son: Quek Soon Whatt, Quek Soon Hoey, Quek Soon Chye

Chop Aik Leong & Co.

Kwek Mui Seng was the proprietor of Aik Leong & Co. Before 21 November 1926, he and Yap Sim Yong were business partners of Aik Leong & Co, Hardware Merchants and Ship-Chandlers at No. 38 Phillip Street before he retired and sold of his share of the business to Mr. Kwek Moey Seng. The company listed at 37 and 38, Phillip Street are a general importers and exporters of all kinds of building materials and shipchandlery.

Daughter driven to suicide

Kwek Soon Neo was the 16 year old daughter of Kwek Mui Seng, proprietor of Chop Aik Leong, 38 Phillip Street. On the morning of 28 October 1932,she was found to be suffering from caustic soda poisoning and taken to General Hospital but died on the same day. Kwek Soon Neo committed suicide and her reason for doing so was indeed tragic. Kwek Eng Lin (brother of the deceased) said that after the death of his mother 12 years ago, his father married the woman who was now is his step-mother. He had two other brothers and there were also 3 young children (one born by to the step-mother and 2 adopted children). Kwek Eng Lin said this of his step-mother -"She was cruel to us" (to him, his deceased sister and his younger brother) and used to beat them with the rattan, broomsticks and shovel handles. The step-mother was witness to have also grabbed Kwek Soon Neo by her hair and beat her with her fist. His father knew of this but did not interfere because he was too afraid despite complains by his children. The younger brother (14 years) was so frightened he dare not complain to his father. Neighbours stated that they heard the agonised cries of the girl on several occasions. 

Kwek Mui Seng gave evidence by stating that he married his first wife in China and has 3 sons and 1 daughter (the deceased Kwek Soon Neo). His wife (probably Madam Lim Sam Neo) died about 12 years ago and the woman (Kah Geok Keng) referred to as the step-mother was not his legal wife. He went on to say that being a busy man, he was frequently out and was not aware that his children were being so badly treated. Kah Geok Keng denied everything and all the accusations that was brought against her and said that she only punished Kwek Soon Neo when she deserved it. 

In returning the verdict of suicide, the Coroner (Mr. F.G. Bourne) gave the following stern remarks for Kah Geok Keng / Ko Geok Keng , the step mother of Kwek Soon Neo who committed suicide at 16 years of age; 

"It is clear from the evidence that the death of this young girl is entirely due to the persistent cruelty with which you have treated her for some years. Apart from the evidence your own face shows what a wicked and cruel nature you have. You are not fit to be in charge of any children of whatever age and i am forwarding a copy of this record to the Protector of Chinese for him to take suitable action". 

To Kwek Mui Seng there were no kind words as well for him; 

"You are a business and the father of three fine children and yet you have allowed these children to be cruelly treated by your mistress for a number of years until it became so bad that your young daughter- who had only you to look to for protection-took caustic soda and died a painful death rather than endure such treatment in the future. Your own employees and apparently many of your neighbours were aware of what what was happening, while your son has said that he had complained to you and so had your daughter, but that you took no action and yet you expect me to believe that you had no idea how bad things were. As regards to your statement that you intend to turn out your mistress so that your sons will be in no danger of cruelty by her, i very much doubt whether you will do anything of the sort for it is obvious you have always been afraid of her and unable to control her. I am therefore asking the Protector of Chinese to take action in the matter."

Kwek Soon Neo is buried in Bukit Brown, Block 3 Division C, plot 847.

Location of tomb

The tomb of Kwek Mui Seng and Lim Sam Neo is located in Hill 3 Division D, plot 1121 & 1/2 of 1101. I am not able to find the name of Kwek Eng Lin who gave evidence against her step-mother. What happened to him and his younger brother and the step-mother will remain a mystery for now. 

Kwek Mui Seng tomb

Variant Names

Kwek Mui Seng also refers to: Quek Mui Seng  / Kwek Moey Seng 

Kah Geok Keng also refers to: Ko Geok Keng 

References

Notice of taking over and retiring from business. (1927, January 24). The Straits Times, page 12

Alleged Cruelty of Step-Mother. (1932, November 19). Malaya Tribune, page 7 

Chinese Girl's Suicide. (1933, January 11). The Straits Times, page 12 

Kwek Mui Seng. (website).Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录