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 19 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 Chwee of Syonan  (Singapore during Japanese occupation). On 9 August 2605 (1945), Mrs Lim Chong Pang nee Moya Chia Meow Moey gave birth to a baby girl, Moileen Lim Seok Lin. Her father, Chia Hock Chwee made his money as a "fisherman". But i believe he probably owned a fleet of fishing ships. There was also a on-going story that Lim Chong Pang married a fisherman's daughter out of gratitude for him saving his life during the sinking of the S.S. Kuala, but i think that story was stretched a bit too much. 

Together, they had 4 daughters and 1 son. 
Son: Lim Eng Jin (Robert Lim) 
Daughters: Lim Seok Lin, Lim Seok Lek, Lim Seok Lan and Lim Seok Loon. 

Robert Lim had 2 boys, Ralph and Ryan (and their photos are in the recent Lianhe Zaobao dated 19 March 2023). 

Another interesting to note is from the wedding certificate (1944), the witness of their union was no other than Mamoru Shinozaki (advisor of the Defence Headquarters and later Chief Welfare Officer and was the Japanese in charge of overseeing the Endau and Bahau Settlements).  This makes sense as Mr. Lim Chong Pang was in-charge of the Overseas Chinese Association Propaganda Branch during Japanese occupied Singapore. 

Lim Chong Pang and Chia Moew Moey (source: Lianhe Zaobao)

It was from a recent article by Lianhe Zaobao dated 19 March 2023 in which Madam Chia Meow Moey who turn 100 years old shares her vivid story of her marriage to Lim Chong Pang and how he came to her mother to seek her hand in marriage, the wedding and their initial move to Sembawang to start a family where they had no issues of food and clothing and even had servants. After the birth of 
their first daughter,  Lim Chong Pang's first wife and family came back. It turned out that Madam Lee Poh Neo, her mother and Lee Poh Neo and Lim Chong Pang's children manage to escape to India just before the fall of Singapore. 

Before Lim Chong Pang married Madam Chia Meow Moey, Lim Chong Pang was said to have published notices on the newspapers seeking for Madam Lee Poh Neo whereabouts but received no reply. With both families back, Madam Lee Poh Neo of course occupied her paternal home of Mandalay Villa at Amber Road while Chia Meow Moey family lived in a 2 story building connected to Garrick Theatre at Geylang (Garrick Theatre was of course owned by Lim Chong Pang). 

Madam Chia Meow Moey gave insights about her husband being generous and kind who invited villages to his garden and also to have food and drinks and never concealed her existence in his ineraction with them. There is also a road in Chong Pang Village named Hock Chwee Road (after her father, Chia Hock Chwee). When Lim Chong Pang passed away due to stomach cancer at the age of 52 in 1956, Chia Meow Moey received $600 a month to raise her 5 children. Her family were allow to pay respects to Lim Chong Pang when he lay at rest at Mandalay Villa but were not allow to keep vigil or stay overnight. The story hands on a positive note to share that Madam Chia Meow Moey has 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Madam Chia Meow Moey and family at the wake of Mr. Lim Chong Pang at Mandalay Villa
(source: Lianhe Zaobao)

Family

Parents-in-law: Chia Hock Chwee and Madam Chew Ah Boo 

Chia Hock Chwee died in his residence in 177-44, West Hill Road, (13 1/2 mile) Seletar  at the age of 62 on September 13, 1956. He is buried in Block V, Section B, plot 152. Many Tamils and Tamil organisations sent wreaths and messages on the occasion of the funeral. This is because his sons, just like his son-in-law,  Lim Chong Pang were involved in film industry. He is survived by his wife, 2 sons (Chia Soon Ann, Chia Soon Hai), 5 daughters, 2 son-in-law, 2 daughter-in-law and 21 grandchildren. His eldest son, Mr. Chia Soon Ann is associated with the South East Asia Company and is a regular visitor to India and has numerous Indian friends. His wife, Madam Chew Ah Boo passed away on November 17, 1965 at the age of 73. 

There used to be a road in Chong Pang area named after his father-in-law, Hock Chwee Road.

Chia Hock Chwee

Fresh flowers for Mr and Mrs Chia Hock Chwee

Tomb of Mr and Mrs Chia Hock Chwee
Block V, Section B plot 152

Brother-in-law: Mr Chia Soon Ann
Mr Chia Soon Ann (eldest son of Mr Chia Hock Chwee) is the manager of Garrick Theatre and South East Asia Film Company. Like his brother-in-law, Lim Chong Pang, he is a horse racing lover and member of the Singapore Turf Club Election Committee. He passed away at the age of 72 on May 27, 1987.

Lim Chong Pang, his son Lim Eng Kwan and Chia Soon Ann

Chia Soon Ann

Brother-in-law: Mr Chia Soon Hai
Mr. Chia Soon Hai (second son of Mr Chia Hock Chwee) married Miss Quek Siew Yong on October 19, 1949. Chia Soon Hai is the manager of Sultan Theatre.

Further Reading 

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/lifestyle/history-heritage/story20230319-1374008

https://mymindisrojak.blogspot.com/2013/05/chia-hock-chwee-bukit-brown.html

https://mymindisrojak.blogspot.com/2013/05/lim-chong-pang-bukit-brown.html