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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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Koh Bee Huat (Bukit Brown)

January 25, 2026

Block 2 Division G Died Young marble

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Miss Tan Chai Luan (Bukit Brown)

January 25, 2026

Block 2 Division G Died Young marble Youtube Shorts

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Miss Yap Yan Chwee (Bukit Brown)

January 24, 2026

Block 5 Division A Died Young

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Cho Pek Ghay (Bukit Brown)

January 24, 2026

Block 5 Division A

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Tan Kim Eng (bukit Brown)

January 24, 2026

Block 5 Division A

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Koh Ah Lock (Bukit Brown)

January 22, 2026

Block 4 Div C Died Young

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Ho Kim Swee (Bukit Brown)

January 20, 2026

Block 3 Div D unique name

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Lee Soo Keng (Bukit Brown)

January 19, 2026

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Mrs. Tok Hong Kiat nee Madam Tan Chin Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 18, 2026

Block 4 Div C decorative tiles WWII Youtube Shorts

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Tan Eng Seng (Bukit Brown)

January 18, 2026

Block 4 Div C marble

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Miss Chua Ee Boi and the huge Pulai Tree (Bukit Brown)

January 17, 2026

Died Young Pauper Section 3 Section 9

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Miss Tan Tuan Eng (Bukit Brown)

January 17, 2026

Block 4 Div C Died Young

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Miss Tan Poey Joo (Bukit Brown)

January 14, 2026

Block 2 Division F Family - Tan Kheam Hock

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Madam Ang Seck Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 13, 2026

Block 2 Division G

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Khoo Teng Whatt (Bukit Brown)

January 13, 2026

block 2 Division H

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Madam Koh Gueok Neo (Bukit Brown)

January 12, 2026

Block 2 Division F

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Madam Tay Kim Noi (Bukit Brown)

January 12, 2026

Block 2 Division F decorative tiles Died Young Teochew Tomb

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Madam Ong Kim Lian (Bukit Brown)

January 11, 2026

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Yeo Peng Boon (Bukit Brown)

January 11, 2026

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Loh Tiong Hoe (Bukit Brown)

January 11, 2026

Block 2 Division G

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Labels

Bukit Brown913
Hill 3333
Hill 1188
Died Young178
Hill 4165
decorative tiles161
Block 3 Div D143
Block 4 Div A120
Block 3 Div C107
Block 4 Div C103

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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

Newspaper mentions(2025)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions (2017)

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

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Popular Post

Ho Kim Swee (Bukit Brown)

Ho Kim Swee passed away the age of 52 and was buried in Bukit Brown on 14 February 1935. I don't have information about him but around the timeline, there was a Mr. Ho Kim Swee who was an Hon. Treasurer of the Straits Juvenile Union (Boon Wah Kok). But can't really confirm anything after that. What is interesting to me is the names etched below his headstone (likely his children) are so unique; Nona Jawdi Kling Baby Lah Yew Johnny Bulat Willie Mary Johnson Ho Swee Kim is likely Baba Peranakan, judging from the names of the etched on the headstone. Nona=Nyonya, Jawdi=Jew, Kling=Indian, Lah Yew=Frail, Bulat=Round. Ho Kim Swee Location of tomb Block 3 Section D, plot 722 Ho Kim Swee

Mrs. Tok Hong Kiat nee Madam Tan Chin Neo (Bukit Brown)

It was a huge double tomb. The name of the lady buried here is Madam Tan Chin Neo who passed away at the age of 56 on 1 January 1938. From the newspaper archives, Mrs. Tok Hong Kiat nee Madam Tan Chim Neo passed away at the age of 56 at 4 a.m. on Saturday, 1 January 1938 at her residence, No. 141 Thompson Road Singapore. She leaves behind her husband, 1 son, Tok Beng Chuan, 1 daughter, Tok Beng Choo (Mrs. Sng Yew Koon), 1 daughter-in-law, 1 son-in-law, 3 brothers, 7 sisters and many grandchildren . Beside her tomb was a place reserved for her husband, but his name was not etched on the marble plate beneath the altar table. Tok Hong Kiat was one of the many people who went missing after the fall of Singapore. He was last seen being taken away to the holding area in Jalan Besar and likely a victim of Sook Ching. That is the reason why next to Madam Tan Chin Neo is empty as the body of Tok Hong Kiat cannot be found. Mrs. Tok Hong Kiat nee Madam Tan Chin Neo Tok Hong Kiat-...

Chan Yen Pai and family (Bukit Brown)

Chan Yen Pai is better known as the son of Chan Kim Boon, a famous Baba Malay Translator and prolific publisher of many translated Chinese classics to Baba Malay. Chan Yen Pai, himself continued his father’s work and helped republish Sam Kok [The Romance of the Three Kingdom] in 1932 (volumes one to five) with Fang Heng Printing Press, and possibly Song Kang in 1934 with D. T. Lim, and Kou Chey Thian (1933) (volume one only). Chan Yen Pai (Chan Yen P'ai) passed away at the age of 87 on 18th June 1961 at 2:15pm at 166 Neil Road. In the obituary notice, he is survived by his wife, 1 daughter; Chan Gaik Thay 2 sons; Chan Kee Kok and Chan Kee Hee, daughter-in-law; Sim Bee, 7 Grand-children and 6 Great Grandchildren. Mrs. Chan Yen Pai nee Madam Lim Chuan Keat passed away at the age of 61 on 12th November 1937 and is buried beside him. Chan Yen Pai and Madam Lim Chuan Keat Chan Yen Pai, presumably continued his father’s work and helped republish ...

Lim Nee Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Lim Nee Soon's wife (Wee Pek Hay) and two of his son's ( Lim Chong Kuo and Lim Chong Pang ) tomb can be found in Bukit Brown, Block 4 Division A. Mr. Lim Nee Soon is not buried there but in Nanking, China. It is however difficult to write a story about Lim Nee Soon family members tomb cluster in Bukit Brown, without first introducing Mr. Lim Nee Soon first. Pineapple King and Patriot Mr. Lim Nee Soon (1879-1936) is the son of Mr Lim Peng Guan and was born in Kampong Glam, Beach Road in 1879. His father died when Lim Nee Soon was only 8 years old and was left in the care of his maternal grandfather, Mr. Teo Lee (Mr Teo Eng Hock's father). Lim Nee Soon received his early education in both St. Joseph Institution and Anglo-Chinese School and therefore proficient in both English and Chinese languages. A Teochew, he started from scratch, working as a shopkeeper assistant at the age of 18 and from there he climbed the rungs by next working for timber merchant Tan Tye a...

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 Rose (Bukit Brown)

The name Madam Rose is clearly visible in the simple marble headstone of this 38 year lady who passed away on 24 May 1941. The single name or mononym for Madam Rose is very unique for Bukit Brown cemetery. I don't recall encountering any tombs where a mononymous person was buried. That prompted me to go through the burial registrar and the name Matharum Rose comes up. Her dialect was listed as Kheh. Who is Matharum Rose ? The word Matharum fortunately was help deciphered from the community in Heritage Singapore-Bukit Brown Facebook, to be Sanskrit and when translated, The word Matharum (மாதரும்) means Mother. It may be possible that Madam Matharum Rose could be of Indian descent or a lady adopted to an Indian family or of mixed Indian-Chinese heritage who married to a Chinese man of Khek dialect group. Whatever may be the case, this is still a wonderful find ! Madam Rose / Matharum Rose Burial entry for Matharum Rose Location of tomb Block 5 Di...

Miss Tan Chai Luan (Bukit Brown)

The marble headstone reads; Tan Chai Luan Daughter of Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene Born 26th July 1928 Died 30th July 1928 No. 53G Block II Baby Tan Chai Luan was only 4 days when she passed away. The marble headstone on the valley of Block 2 Division G stands reminder of their love for their baby daughter. Baby Tan Chai Luan Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene went on to have other children; Son: Tan Keng Siong Daughters: Tan Kheng Lian, Tan Kheng Choo Grandchildren: Kenneth Tan Boon Beng, Debbie Tan Siok Hean, Patti Tan Siok Tze, Chew Gek Khim, Chew Gek Hiang, Chew Kwee San, Chuan Ian Campbell, Helene Campbell Parents: Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene Tan Chin Tuan was the Assistant Secretary of the Chinese Commercial Bank married Miss Wee Helene, (daughter of Mr. Wee Theam Seng ) on 18 September 1926. Wee Theam Seng was the manager of the Chinese Commercial Bank. When the Chinese Commercial Bank merged with Ho Hong and Overseas Chinese Bank in 1933, to become the Ov...

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...

Lee Soo Keng (Bukit Brown)

Loo Soo Keng passed away on 23 October 1937. From the burial registrar, Lee Soo Keng was listed as 30 years old and dialect as Hokchew. Son; Lee Sun Choon Location of tomb Block 4 Section C, plot 15 (This part of Block 4 C is closer to Block 4 Section B)

Koh Ah Lock (Bukit Brown)

Koh Ah Lock passed away at the age of 24 on 7 January 1938. On the burial registrar, his name is listed as Chua Ah Loh and age is 23. Koh Ah Lock Location of tomb Block 4 Section C, plot 142 Koh Ah Lock

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