Mrs. Ong Koon Keat nee Madam Chee Boey Lee Neo (Seh Ong Cemetery)

Madam Chee Boey Lee Neo / Chee Buay Lee Neo, wife of Mr. Ong Koon Keat passed away at the age of 36 on 13 October 1913 at her residence, 12 Mohamed Sultan Road. She came of a well known family of Malacca and was one of the sisters of Mr. Chee Swee Cheng, J.P. 

Madam Chee Boey Lee Neo leaves a daughter and several stepchildren . It was mention that about a month ago, she lost her only son. On 17 October 1913, the remains of the late Mrs. Ong Koon Keat were moved from her residence, 12 Mohamed Sultan Road to the Seh Ong Cemetery, Bukit Timah Road. There was a large attendance, among those present being the Hon. Tan Jiak Kim, C.M.G, Messrs. Chia Keng Chin, Tan Kheam Gock, Chee Swee Cheng, Ong Koon Kee, Quay Geok Yeow, Ong Peng Hock, Ang Hock Siew, Chia Cheng Kang, Chia Teck Chye, Chua Yeow Kee, Koh Teong Yang, Tan Soo Guan, Tan Cheow Pin, Tan Wi Yan, Chee Toon Cheng, Ong Beng Guat, Tan Teck Puan, Tan Ong Tee, Chee Bee Cheng, Quay Geok Lim, Wee Keng Teong and Koh Seck Tian. Mr. Ong Koon Keat and family thank those who attended. 

From the tomb of Madam Chee Buay Lee Neo, she was born on 27 July 1877 and passed away on 13 October 1913. 

Tomb of Madam Chee Buay Lee Neo / Chee Boey Lee Neo

Husband: Ong Koon Keat / Ong Koon Kiat

Ong Koon Keat was a partner with the Johore Gambier and Pepper Farm and also a property owner. 

On 12 March 1920, Ong Koon Keat was fined $150 by the District Court for raising the rent of house No. 8 Upper Chinchew Street without the permission of the Rent Assessment Board.

Ong Koon Kiat passed away at the age of 70 at 394 River Valley Road on 8 April 1939 leaving behind 3 sons, 5 daughters, 3 sons-in-law, 2 daughters-in-law, 21 grandchildren. He is buried in Bukit Brown. 

Mother-in-law: Mrs. Ong Kong Koon 

Mrs. Ong Kong Koon passed away at the ageo of 80 on 12 September 1916 at her residence, 154 Heeren Street, Malacca. She leaves behind 3 sons;

Mr. Ong Koon Kee

Mr. Ong Kim Kiat

Mr. Ong Koon Kiat

a daughter, 34 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. 

Brother: Chee Swee Cheng

Chee Swee Cheng is the son of Chee Hong Bong and grandson of Chee Yam Chuan. Born in Malacca in 1866 and educated there, he came to Singapore at the age of 16 ans work a cashier for the firm of Lim Tiang Wah & Co. 4 yeats later he join Leack, Chin Seng & Co and subsequently became manager of Messrs Soon Thye, general merchants. In 1900, he became partner of the General Spirit and Opium Farm in British North Borneo. Opportunities led to the Governor of Jesselton offering him 5,000 acres which Chee Swee Cheng cultivate, tapoica, rubber and later even a sawmill (City Sawmill) ! Returning to Singapore, he set up the Atlas ice factory with a view of competition to reduce the price of ice so that even ricksha pullers and coolies can afford it ! He was one of the founders of the Ho Hong Bank ad Chairman of the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation. 

Chee Swee Cheng 

Chee Swee Cheng spent most of his working life outside Malacca but never forgot his roots. He set up a family temple at their family property at 117 Heeren Street. The temple or ash house was named Chee Yam Chuan Temple but today popularly known as the Chee Mansion. He contributed back to society with scholarships, medical funds and facilities, maternity ward and many other causes donated  generously by him. Chee Swee Cheng passed away at the age of 71 at his home in 13 Devonshire Road on 22 August 1938. His remains were taken back to Malacca for burial at his family burial ground in Bukit Bruang, Malacca.

The Heeren Building at Orchard Road was built in 1931 by Chee Swee Cheng. It was named after his family home at Heeren street in Malacca. Heeren in Dutch means "gentlemen. The building was demolished in 1990 and replaced by spanking new building that is still called Heeren. His legacy continues after his death with Chee Swee Cheng & Co. Pte Ltd donating to the development of arts. 

Funeral car of Mr. Chee Swee Cheng 

The logo of Chee Swee Cheng & Co. Pte Ltd. Heeeren in Dutch means Gentleman

Lion and the Lamb  vs the  新漢 

The headstone carving of a western lion and lamb supporting the central element of an unidentified Coat of Arms of sorts is one of the first thing that will catch a person eye when they see the headstone of Madam Chee Buay Lee Neo. This carvings are usually seen more Western metaphor or even biblical significance. Could it because of the Western outlook of the family of Madam Chee or her husband, Mr. Ong Koon Keat this carving was selected ?

Just below it, Raymond Goh explain to me are the characters;  新漢  which literally translates to "New Han". Majority of the Chinese from China would be Han Chinese. From the perspective of the timeline of this tomb, 1913 - China would have been independent of its previous Qing masters after the 1911 Revolution. 

It might be an oxymoron, that the headstone still has a western outlook and yet engraving 新漢  proclaims the new identity of the New Han, free of its external chains and rulers ? Whatever could be the meaning of this combination -it nevertheless is enlightening to me the rich history and stories that can come out from the stones. 

If you have a different interpretation, do leave a comment below. 

Lion and Lamb and 新漢 

[research on-going] 

Location of tomb 

8RJ9+GW6 Singapore

References

Social and Personal. (1913, October 13). The Straits Times, page 8

Untitled. (1913, October 18). The Straits Times, page 8

Social and Personal. (1916, September 14). The Straits Times, page 6

Pioneer Work in B.N.B and Labuan of Mr. Chee Swee Cheng. (1935, June 14). The Singapore Free Press, page 11

Mr. Chee Swee Cheng, Noted Chinese, Dies. (1938, August 23). Malaya Tribune, page 12

Local Chinese Banker's Funeral in Malacca. (1938, August 29). Morning Tribune, page 3

Chinese Bank Chairman Dies. Mr. Chee Swee Cheng. Many Gits to Hospitals. (1938, August 25). The Straits Budget, page 7

"City of Bedford". (1939,April 10). Malaya Tribune, page 5

Advertisements. (1993, November 7). The Straits Times, page 9

About -Logo. (website). The Heeren 

Ong Koon Kiat and Chee Buay Lee Neo.(website).Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录

Song, O.S. (1984). One hundred years history of the Chinese in Singapore. Singapore: Oxford University Press