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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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Showing posts with the label Heng San Teng

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Newspaper mentions (2024 - Heng San Teng Boundary Marker)

January 04, 2025

Boundary Marker Heng San Teng newspaper mentions

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Relocated tombs from Heng San Teng (Kopi Sua Cemetery)

Heng San Teng kopi sua whitley cemetery

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Bukit Brown961
Hill 3317
Hill 1185
Hill 4165
Died Young144
decorative tiles135
Block 3 Div D130
Block 4 Div A115
Hill 297
Block 3 Div B86

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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 Cheng Yong (Bukit Brown)

Tan Cheng Yong passed away at the age of 47 on 5 March 1939. On his marble headstone, the names of his children are listed; Sons: Edward Tan, George Tan and Cecil Tan Daughters: Tan Tak Neo, Alice Tan and Maggie Tan With the rediscovery of this tomb, i can confirm that the names of the children that are clearly etched on Mr. Tan Cheng Yong tomb matches the name of the children of Madam Lau Lan Neo and grandchildren of Tan Hap Leong - this confirms that this Tan Cheng Yong is the eldest son of Mr. Tan Hap Leong and grandson of Mr. Tan Kim Tian (a prominent merchant and shipowner of Tan Kim Tian and Sons.). The secondary but equally useful information etched on the tomb is the ancestral place he is from 山仰 which matches that of Tan Kim Tian. This indeed is a fantastic find as another family member of Tan Kim Tian is found but also confirmed to me that the wealth did not flow down to Tan Cheng Yong as his tomb is a simple one located at the Pauper section....

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...

Madam Sng Cheng Lian (Bukit Brown)

Madam Sng Cheng Lian passed away at the age of 70 on 29 May 1941. A fig tree is growing in the middle and her portrait photo was dislodged from its previous location below the altar. Some kind soul has fortunately cleared the tomb and placed the ceramic photo were it was visible and thus attracted my attention. Madam Sng Cheng Lian I have no further details at the moment, will update when there is. Location of tomb Block 5 Division A, plot 59. The burial registrar list her as Hokkien.

Madam Cheang Kok Peck (Bukit Brown)

Madam Cheang Kok Peck passed away at the age of 50 on 15 September 1932. Listed on her tomb is the name of her daughter; Quah Swee Hai. Although i am unable to find more details about Madam Cheang Kok Peck, basic observation of her simple tomb whose tomb shoulders are crumbling and headstone engraving which is getting more difficult to read due to years of weathering tells a bit more. After some chalking, i realise her simple tomb can tell many stories - and the story that seems to reach to me is the the tomb mason made 2 serious during the engraving process. First one is very obvious after the chalking - Madam Cheang surname was wrongly spelled and the "A" was added above Cheng. The second mistake was Peck was spelt wrongly as Peok (also confirmed in the burial registrar). Location of tomb Pauper 3 Section 7, plot 1504

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...

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 Pah...

Ho Siak Kuan cluster revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

Before Bukit Brown cemetery changed forever due to construction of the Lornie Highway, a cluster of tombs catches your eye as you passed through the gates of Bukit Brown and walk pass the roundabout. It is the wonderful unique landmark of chinese-style roofing that bears a story of a Singapore pioneer by the name of Mr. Ho Siak Kuan (何式均), (1846-1946), M.B.E., C.H. . He was the Chief Chinese Translator for the Straits Settlement Government and Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs and the tomb cluster included his 2 wives and his son, Dr. Ho Siak Khun, who was buried in an adjacent tomb with chinese-style roofing as well. Another landmark use to exist nearby the cluster too, which was the former Bukit Brown cemetery temple but the temple was already demolished (year unknown) by time i visited Bukit Brown cemetery around 2010. Fortunately photos of the temple of that survived. Today while exploring the niches at Mandai Columbarium, i came across this niches which...

Miss Teo Geok Neo (Lao Sua)

We came across the tomb of Miss Teo Geok Neo during our hike in Lao Sua in June / July 2024. There was a sign next to it. Usually from experience, we guessed that this is a sign that the descendants have reconnected with her and wish for her to "move house" (exhumed) and placed together with her fellow love ones. Miss Teo Geok Neo / Annie Teo Geok Neo passed away at the age of 28 on 3 November 1952. She unfortunately passed away due to either pneumonia or tuberculosis. Miss Teo Geok Neo (photo courtesy of Engsoon Tan) A young Miss Teo Geok Neo with her mother, Mrs. Tan Piah Eng nee Madam Chan Ah Siew (source: Engsoon Tan) Miss Teo Geok Neo tomb in Lao Sua before she "moved house" Fast forward to September 2024, i manage to see pictures of her tomb posted by a nephew of Miss Teo Geok Neo under the moniker of Our Bedok Kampong House - Singapore on Bukit Brown facebook group ! What amazing coincidence and the black and white documentation of photos was of her tomb...

Tan Swee Hoe mansion in Batu Pahat

The status of Tan Swee Hoe's mansion at 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pahat was finally revealed! The mansion that was once owned by Tan Swee Hoe's descendants was sold and the rumors circulating at one point of time was it was going to be demolished. In fact various readers of my blog sent me pictures of the mansion after it was sold where the rooftop of the building and the interiors was completely stripped. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion (minus the roof) Well it was finally revealed in various Malaysian papers ( Sin Chew Daily , Johor China Press ) that it was purchased by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan of Johor. It was reported in the papers that the Sultan of Johor plans to restore the building and turn it into a Heritage Centre featuring the artefacts of the Johor Chinese community as well as as artefacts from China as a strong symbol to reaffirm the long relationship between the Johor Sultanate and China. About Tan Swee Hoe Tan Swee Hoe T...

Gan Eng Seng and family (Bukit Brown)

Gan Eng Seng was born in Malacca ( Melaka) in 1844. His Great Grandparents came from Sam-Toh, Fukien province. Born third in a family of 5, he had two elder sisters, Gan Gin Neo and Gan Guat Neo. He was the eldest son. His younger brother was Gan Eng Chye followed by the youngest sister, Gan Guan Neo. Born poor, he still was able to received some education, giving him the ability to read and write simple English. His father died when he was 16 years old. He then left for Singapore and was involved initially in a nutmeg business in a small scale. He went on to served under Guthrie and Co. Gan Eng Seng Chief Campradore, Gutherie and Co. Thomas Scott, a partner of Gutherie, offered Gan Eng Seng a job in the godown at Coller Quay as a clerk and it was there he climbed up the ranks, from an Assistant Storekeeper to Chief Storekeeper and finally the Chief Campradore of Guthrie and Company after 13 years of service. He was the Chief Compradore for 25 years till he died in 1899. ...

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