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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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Bukit Brown Flora and Fauna

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

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

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

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

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

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Popular Post

Tan Wye Kam (Bukit Brown)

Tan Wye Kam passed away at the age of 39 on 10 November 1933. Listed on his tombstone are the names of his children; Son: Tan Hwee Hong Daughters: Tan Sim Neo, Tan Gek Neo The beautiful decorative tiles on the tomb shoulder was what caught my eye, but behind this beauty reveals a shocking and sad story - Tan Wye Kam committed suicide and died in the most painful manner. Tan Wye Kam Chinese Clerk's pathetic letter The journalist reporting on Tan Wye Kam suicide did not take kindly to his death and did not mince his words -branding him pathetic and unable to bear his long illness. Tan Wye Kam was a Hokkien Chinese Clerk employed at the A.P.C. (not to sure which company that was) and was reported to have died at the age of 38 at the General Hospital on 10 November 1933 from the effects of corrosive poisoning. Tan Wye Kam left behind a suicide note which reads; " I am mentally depressed through worries and illness. I have inclination to end this miserable life and if...

Mrs. Koh Kong Leng nee Goh Choo Neo (Bukit Brown)

Koh Kong Leng (third son of Mr. and Mrs. Koh Hoon Teck and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Koh Lian Ghee ) married Miss Goh Choo Neo (second daughter of the late Mr. Goh Eng Sit and third stepdaughter of Mr. Kow Wee Kim) on 17 March 1927. The details from the Chinese style wedding photo of Mr. Koh Kong Leng and Miss Goh Choo Neo in 1927 provided valuable details. The wedding took place at No. 561 East Coast Road Singapore and that Miss Goh Choo Neo is the granddaughter of the late Mr. Lee Cheng Yan and niece of the late Mr. Lee Choon Guan and Mrs. Lee Choon Guan, M.B.E. , second daughter of the late Mr. Goh Eng Sit and Mrs. Goh Eng Sit and step-daughter of Mr. Koh Wee Kim of No. 58 Stanley Street. Wedding of Mr. Koh Kong Leng and Miss Goh Choo Neo On 20 November 1928 at No. 80 Cairnhill Road, Mrs. Koh Kong Leng gave birth to a son. Death Mrs. Koh Kong Leng nee Madam Goh Choo Neo passed away at the age of 26 on 9 November 1933. Her marble headstone was ...

Tan Siew Gan (Bukit Brown)

Tan Siew Gan passed away at the age of 55 on 25 February 1934. The name of the son listed on his tomb is Tan Kim Kee. What is unique is the Cross symbol on his headstone. Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery by-laws rule number #1 was very clear that the burial ground is to be used for the burial of Chinese not of the Christian religion, so seeing Christian Cross symbols are indeed rare in Bukit Brown . Mr. Tan Siew Gan Christian Cross symbol of the marble headstone of Mr. Tan Siew Gan Location of tomb Block 3 Section C, plot 254 20250719

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...

Madam Yap Siew Eng (Bukit Brown)

The marble headstone broke and part of the shoulder damaged. Also one part of the tombstone was badly damaged by probably a fallen tree in the past. Fortunately, for Madam Yap Siew Eng, i am able to trace who are her descendants. We also clean up her tombstone and if you watch the Youtube video below you can see the effort put in. Madam Yap Siew Eng passed away at the age of 63 on 3 March 1934. The name of her children; Son: Oh Ah Pin Daughters: Oh Eng Neo, Oh Luan Eng Grandsons: Oh Hock Cheng Granddaughters: Oh Poh Neo, Oh Hin Neo Daughters-in-law: Wee Siang Neo Madam Yap Siew Eng's husband is Mr. Oh Kay Choy. Members of the Amicable Athletic Association will learn with regret of the death of Madam Yap Siew Eng (the beloved grandmother of Mr. Lim Cheng Hong) which occurred at her residence, 579 Kampong Bahru Road. Madam Yap Siew Eng / Mrs. Oh Kay Choy Family Son: Oh Ah Pin The marriage was announced to take place on April 192...

Madam Fong Jipoon (Bukit Brown)

Madam Fong Jipoon passed away at the age of 26 on 11 November 1931. In the burial registrar her name was listed as Foo Jipoon. What is interesting her name sounds like Jepun (Malay for Japan). Her chinese character 日本 also literally translates to Japan. Madam Fong Jipoon Location of tomb Block 3 Division B, plot 627 Madam Fong Jipoon tomb (photo taken in 2025)

Chew Boon Lay (Bukit Brown)

Chew Boon Lay (周文礼) (1852-1933) was born in a small village in Changchow, Amoy. He became an orphan in his late teens and decided to take up his uncle's invitation to come over to Siam (formerly Thailand). He laboured hard under this tyrant of an uncle who paid him nothing and made him work from dawn to dust. Chew Boon Lay and Madam Ong Cheng Neo Saved by heavenly intervention On a faithful evening, 3 years after being practically been a slave, a visitor was said to have stole a sum of money and this uncle put the entire blame on Chew Boon Lay and threatened to turn him in to the police. In desperation, Chew Boon Lay came up with an idea to win the money through a stake on a lottery. Borrowing 1 tical from his sympathetic aunt, he prayed before Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy and in a moment of delirium or what is said a miracle, he heard two characters been spoken to him. He won, paid his uncle and with whatever left over vowed never to work for his uncle again and we...

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...

A kidnap bid foiled in the Shaw family - Bukit Brown connection

This week's news was abuzz with first, the passing of Sir Run Run Shaw (CBE, GBM), the legendary movie mogul. He died on January 7, 2014, aged 107. He is survived by 2 sons ( Shaw Vee Meng, Shaw Vee Chung, Harold ), 2 daughters (Dorothy Shaw, Violet Shaw ) , 2 daughter-in-laws ( Josephine Kho, Diana Wee) and many grand and great grandchildren. His wife was Lady Lily Shaw (deceased ) and years after his first wife passing married Madam Mona Fong. The second news that captivated many Singaporean's was the kidnap attempt of a 79 year old woman, Madam Eng Lai Poh. She is the mother of Mr Lim Hock Chee, Chief Executive of public listed company Sheng Siong, a supermarket chain. The ransom sought by the kidnappers was $20 million. Mr. Lim Hock Chee called the police who helped tracked down the kidnappers and caught the suspects. Bukit Brown connection to Shaw and kidnapping You may be wondering how this week's two story is related to Bukit Brown? Rewind back to October...

Mrs. Seah Eng Lim nee Madam Tan Siew Kim (Bukit Brown)

The marriage took place on January 1911 between Mr. Seah Eng Lim (son of Mr. Seah Peck Seah) and Miss Tan Siew Kim (sister of Tan Joo Khoon ). Mrs. Seah Eng Lim alias Madam Tan Siew Kim passed away at the age of 42 at her residence, 42 Orchard Road on 22 February 1935 leaving behind her husband, 1 son, 1 daughter, 1 son-in-law (Mr. Tan Lye Sia), 4 brothers, Tan Joo Seng, Tan Joo Soon (Sub-contractor, Sir John Jackson, Ltd Naval Base), Tan Koon Yam, Tan Joo Kee, 2 sisters, several nephews, nieces and 6 grandchildren. Mr. Seah Eng Lim and family tender their heartfelt thanks to relatives, friends, the Happilads' A.P. , Faternal B.P., Pasir Panjang Party who paid night visits, sent wreaths, etc. for the funeral of the late Mrs. Seah Eng Lim alias Madam Tan Siew Kim. Mrs. Seah Eng Lim alias Madam Tan Siew Kim Family Husband: Seah Eng Lim Seah Eng Lim was the Chairman and Managing Director of the Sze Hai Tong Banking Insurance Co. Ltd. Board of Director for the ...

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