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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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Lee Seng Joon (Lao Sua)

decorative tiles Fig Tree Lao Sua

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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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Detective Tan Kee Chuan (Bukit Brown)

It started with Raymond Goh sharing a newspaper article about a police officer's funeral at Bukit Brown and the circumstances of his death while on active duty. Armed with the burial location, we eventually found the tomb and it was a very simple one unlike the other well-known policeman buried in Bukit Brown, Inspector Wong Chin Yoke . Soil movement has cause the headstone to dislodge from the tomb shoulder and the headstone has tilted slight with the engravings partially covered by soil. But finally at least we can now remember Detective Tan Kee Chuan (D.P.C. 748) who was killed on active duty on 30 July 1932. He was 24 years old when he died. Detective Tan Kee Chuan, (D.P.C. 748) Full Honours Accorded At Funeral The article describes the funeral service of Chinese policeman, Tan Kee Chuan (D.P.C. 748), who was murdered while on duty. The funeral was held at Bukit Brown cemetery on Monday morning with full service honors. All members of D division, along with N.C.O.'s repre...

Teo Sok Boon alias Teo Shanghai (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Low Puay Kim nee Teo Shanghai passed away at the age of 31 at her residence No. 7, Lorong B, St. George's Road on 23 April 1929. On her tomb, her name is listed as Teo Shanghai and in the burial registrar, Teo Sok Boon. 12 years before she passed away she married Low Puay Kim . On 7 July 1917, Miss. Teo Sok Boon married Mr. Low Puey Kim at No. 156-2, Middle Road, Singapore. Mr. Low Puey Kim is the son of Mr. Low Chai Soon. of Swatow. Miss Teo Sok Noon is the eldest daughter of Mr. Teo Bah Tan. A reception was held at the Garden Club, Cairnhill. Tracing her story back further, i believe that in 1911, Teo Shanghai was a student in The Convent. What is also interesting is there is another person called Teo Sochoo (maybe her sister? ). In memory of Teo Shanghai Teo Shanghai (1911) Family Husband: Low Puay Kim In 1929, Low Puay Kim of No 7, Lorong B, St. George's Road (Phone No 6936) put up and advertisement warning people that his name was missued to get o...

Wee Beow Chwee and Lim Seok See (Bukit Brown)

Wee Beow Chwee (18 May 1894- 4 January 1968) Madam Lim Seok See (18 October 1898 - 23 August 1934) Sons: Wee Yam Tong, Wee Yam Lam, Wee Mui Pok, Wee Yam Khoon, Wee Sek Kay Daughters: Wee Kim Chye Wife: Mrs. Wee Beow Chwee nee Madam Lim Seok See Neo Mrs. Wee Beow Chwee nee Lim Seok See Neo passed away at the age of 37 at her residence, No 81, Wilkie Road on 23 August 1934. She leaves behind her her husband, 5 sons, 1 daughter, 1 brother, 3 sisters, her mother-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law. Madam Lim Seok See Neo is a daughter of Mr. Lim Kwee Eng and Madam Cheang Cheow Lian Neo (daughter of Mr. Cheang Hong Lim ). Tomb of Lim Seok See and Wee Beow Chwee Family Mother: Madam Tan Swee Neo nee Mrs. Wee Chong Bee Mrs. Wee Chong Beng nee Tan Swee Neo passed away on 8th November 1937 at the age of 77. Listed on her tomb are the names of her children: Sons: Wee Peow Yong, Wee Beow Chwee Daughters-in-laws: Lim Peck See, Lim Seok See Grandsons: Wee Y...

Kwa Siew Tee and family (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

Kwa Siew Tee, a Semarang born Chinese was a Municipal Commissioner (an appointment he held till 1949). He was also the General Manager of Overseas Chinese Bank Corporation Limited, Assistant General Manager of The Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Limited and a Member of the Hospital Board. He received a Certificate of Honour in 1951. Kwa Siew Tee passed away at the age of 89 on 20 March 1977. Group photo of the founding of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation in 1932 Kwa Siew Tee is standing behind. (source: National Archives of Singapore) Family Kwa Siew Tee and family (source: National Archives of Singapore) Wife: Madam Wee Yew Neo Madam Wee Yew Neo is the daughter of Wee Theam Seng . She passed away on 14 May1980. She is survived by; 3 sons: Kwa Soon Siew, Kwa Soon Chuan, Kwa Soon Bee 4 daughters: Kwa Geok Neo, Kwa Geok Lan, Kwa Geok Choo, Kwa Geok Eng. Son: Kwa Soon Hock Kwa Soon Hock is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Kwa Siew Tee. He was a sta...

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...

Kho Keng Chuan (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Kho Keng Chuan was born in Malacca and later educated in Raffles Institution. He first worked in Adams, Gilfillan and Co. Ltd. Then he became a salesman in the early 1890's to Mr. Arthur Barker before eventually becoming his partner in Messrs. Barker and Keng Chuan for 23 years. The office was located in Change Alley. Kho Keng Chuan is also a member of the Straits Chinese British Association. Kho Keng Chuan and Tan Yew Neo (photo courtesy of Trent Lai) Death Kho Keng Chuan retired in April 1929, due to ill-health. On April 17, 1930 at 1:45 am, he passed away at the age of 60. His tomb lists his 5 sons: Kho Lian Ann (deceased), Kho Lian Cheng (alias Charlie Kho), Kho Lian Guan, Kho Lian Hock, Kho Lian Swee and 6 daughters; Kho Lian Neo, Kho Ann Neo, Kho Joo Neo, Kho Teck Neo, Kho Siam Neo, Kho Bong Neo. Listed are also 2 grandsons, Cary Kho and Jimmy Kho and 1 daughter, Polly Kho. Tomb of Kho Keng Chuan Madam Tan Yew Neo (wife of late Kho Keng Chuan and daughter o...

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...

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...

Sg Buloh Wetland Reserve

Was at the Sungai Buloh Nature Reserve (Sg Buloh means Bamboo River in Malay) on the 26/2/05 with my girlfriend. It was a lovely day (not too hot) and because it was a Sat, the bus does not go all the way in to the nature reserve, but stops outside at the Kranji Reservoir. So we took a nice stroll along the Kranji Nature Trail that ends at entrance of the Buloh Wetland and when we step into the visitor's /info counter , we were greeted with the lovely sight of an iguana sun bathing (yup iguana -not monitor lizard ok). We saw it thru a spotting scope of a Sg. Buloh volunteer at the cafe beside the pond. The iguana was huge !!!-i think about 2-3 foot long. The bridge leading to the reserve was going thru maintenance so did not linger there for long but went straight into the reserve proper with healthy mangrove trees everywhere. we managed to see many birds (the natives and also migratory ones on their way home). It was sight to behold and some of the positive id's include 3 Sto...

House of Tan Yeok Nee

The house of Tan Yeok Nee at 101 Penang Road (known as Tank Road road in the past) was once the house of Mr. Tan Yeok Nee. Constructed in 1882, over 100 labourers were employed and the house finished its construction within 3-4 years at a cost of $300,000. Tan Yeok Nee has intended to house his family there after bringing over his ancestral tablet from China over. However when the colonial government acquired part of the land for railway tracks, Tan Yeok Nee decided to sell the place and he eventually return to China. It was said that his return to China was also a result of his second son receiving a commission from the Chinese government. The land and house was acquired for the building of the railway during the colonial rule and became the station masters house. In 1912, it was entrusted to the Anglican Church under Bishop Ferguson Davies and became the St. Mary's Home for Eurasian girls for a period of 20 years. Later it became the Salvation Army's Headquarters in 1938 ...

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Heritage in S'pore and M'sia

All things Bukit Brown
Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
Bukit Brown Cemetery
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Nature in S'pore and M'sia

Focus Ubin
National Parks(Singapore)
Mangrove Flora and fauna of Sg Buloh
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Online guide to Chek Jawa, Ubin

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