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. She was said to have sustained prolonged periods of physical abuse from her step-mother who used to beat her (and two of her brothers) with the rattan, broomstick and shovel handle. The step-mother was witness to have also grabbed Kwek Soon Neo by her hair and beat her with her fist. Kwek Soon Neo's biological father knew of this but did not interfere because he was too afraid despite complains by his children. Neighbors stated that they heard the agonised cries of the Kwek Soon Neo on several occasions, but also did nothing.
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| Kwek Soon Neo |
Couplets
The couplets laments her ill fated ending and it reads
想不到此竟到此, 事無奈何可奈何
I am where I do not wish to be, how to stop that which cannot be helped
Child
Miss Kwek Soon Neo wasn't married but the tomb has a name of one "child" 孝男柏青 , which is likely the name of her nephew placed maybe for auspicious reasons.
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| Kwek Soon Neo's tomb with its unique couplets |
Location of tomb
Kwek Soon Neo is buried almost at the top of Block 3 Division C, plot 847
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
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