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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 Images from the Past

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Mosquito Bus with Tanjong Pagar route sign (Images from the Past)

February 22, 2026

Images from the Past North Bridge Road old photo

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Bukit Brown Sheds and Superintendent House

October 23, 2024

Bukit Brown Images from the Past old photo

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Kheam Hock Road Temple (Images from the Past)

October 16, 2024

Elliot Collection Images from the Past kheam hock road village temple

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Tien Seng Photographer (Images from the Past)

September 20, 2024

Images from the Past

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Funeral of Wee Teck Seng (Images from the Past)

September 15, 2024

Bukit Brown Images from the Past

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Funeral of Tay Koh Yat at Bukit Brown

September 06, 2024

Block 5 Division D Bukit Brown Images from the Past

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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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Yeo Bian Chuan (Bukit Brown)

Yeo Bian Chuan was born in Rhio (Riau island of Indonesia which was under Netherlands East Indies control). He came at a very young age to Singapore and was educated in Singapore. He was a produce broker and the senior partner of Messrs. Yeo Bian Chuan and Co, 22-A Change Alley. After residing in the Straits Settlement for the past 52 years, he was naturalised as a British subject in 1921. Yeo Bian Chuan (source: NewspaperSG) Singapore Mutiny On 15 February 1915, Indian soldiers of the 5th Madras Light Infantry (Indian Army or sepoys) revolted, killing more than 40 British officers, residents and locals. The mutiny came to be known as the "Singapore Mutiny". An estimated 800 mutineers were involved, killing more than 40 British officers, residents and locals. It started with a dangerous cocktail of propaganda, poor leadership and misinformation from various parties (including a German prisoner) leading to this mutiny. It was finally quelled with assistance of Br...

Madam Lim Bee Neo and Lee Siew Fong (Mandai Columbarium)

One of the unique ceramic portraits i seen while exploring Bukit Brown was of Madam Lim Bee Neo ( (梁門林氏) was passed away at the age of 76 on 21 February 1941. She is seen sitting down with a lovely smile on a chair in a studio shoot. If you look closely at her feet, it is very likely she has bounded feet . Her tomb in Block 5 is no longer in Bukit Brown as it was one of the many affected by Lornie Highway with the LTA stake number 1114. Next to her tomb is her daughter-in-law, Madam Lee Siew Fong who passed away at the age of 43 on 29th June 1949. Her LTA stake number was 1115. Madam Lim Bee Neo (photo taken on 31 December 2013) I was told both tombs have been claimed by descendants. Fast forward to 2025, i finally got a glimpse of their next resting place, sharing a niche in Mandai Columbarium. Madam Lee Siew Fong and her mother-in-law Madam Lim Bee Neo Madam Lee Siew Fong and her mother-in-law Madam Lim Bee Neo Madam Lim Bee Neo (age 76, died on...

Christian Cemetery Serangoon Road Burial Receipt (Syonan Tokubetu Si)

Thanks to the community contribution of Ben Yew, i now managed to get another glimpse of a Burial Receipt that was used for Bukit Brown Cemetery - but there is a twist to this - the burial receipt was originally printed to be used for the Christian Cemetery, Serangoon Road but it was strike out ! Unlike the previous burial receipt that used Syonan Tokubetu (even though the receipt post dates the Japanese occupiers surrender ), this particular receipt is dated 2604 -2 -19 or 19 February 1944 (if we translate that back to Gregorian Calendar, which was during the Japanese occupation still). My theory was there was more burials in Bukit Brown cemetery and thus needing more receipts, the Christian Cemetery, Serangoon Road (possibly Bidadari) ones was reused. The burial receipt was for Ang Kah Peck who passed away on 19 February 1944 and is buried in the Pauper Division, Block 4 Division 2, plot 734 B. The burial receipt clearly states: nil (Free Burial). As Ang Kah Peck was buried in t...

Valley of Death (Siglap)

There was a series of pictures that were recently published on PictureSG, donated by Foo Chin Hwa 胡拯华 1962 that got me curious. It was a series of pictures that shows and describes exhumation being carried out and bones found in Siglap. However nothing further was added in the description and credit line of this pictures except for a few. For this series of pictures, a few things were consistent, the year the pictures were taken and the donor, Foo Chin Hwa 胡拯华. Washing of bones from mass graves source: PictureSG Bones found in Siglap (source: PictureSG) Piles of discarded footwear source: PictureSG Storing bones in jar (source: PictureSG) Siglap's "Valley of Death" The newspaper article headline of 24 February 1962 caught my attention. It describes a recent sandwashing activity at 7.5 mile Siglap Road which led to a discovery of mass war graves. The location of this place is off Evergreen Avenue and very close to Puay Poon School. The Chi...

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 Paha...

Tan Tang Niah and family (Bukit Brown)

Tan Tang Niah / Tan Teng Niah (陳東嶺) came from China when he was 10 years old. He was a towkay who owned several sweet-making factories along Serangoon Road that used sugarcane to produce sweets. Behind his residence, Tan Tang Niah had a rubber smoke-house for drying rubber which used the by-products of sugarcane as fuel for its furnace. In short he was involved in the confectionary and rubber business. Tan Tang Niah contributed a lot to the community and schools as well. He was the president of Poh Chek Kiong, Hon, treasurer of the Chinese High School, President of the Chong Cheng School, Beach Road for 20 years. Tan Tang Niah was an auditor in the committee of the Toh Lam School during the time (1914) where the President was Mr. See Teong Wah , vice-President, Mr. Chia Swee Siang, hon treasurer, Chew Jim Hean. Other schools which he played a role in was the Chinese High School, The Chong Cheng School and Chong Poon Girls' School. Tan Tang Niah was also in the Chinese Chamber of C...

Teo Hong and Madam Ang Cheok Neo (Bukit Brown)

Teo Hong / Tio Hoo Hong / Tio Hong (of Lam Ann ancestry) was a Government and Singapore Harbour Board contractor who was involved in many projects from 1900 onwards. Teo Hong (Tio Hong in the burial registrar) passed away at the age of 90 on 29 March 1945. Teo Hong Road (赵芳路) is named after him. The death took place on 29th November 1936 of Mrs. Teo Hong nee Ang Cheok Neo at the age of 59 at her residence, 345 New Bridge Road after a stroke. Mrs. Teo Hong was the wife of Mr. Teo Hong, retired Government and Singapore Harbour Board contractor and mother of Mr. Teo Soo Piah, also a retired building contractor, and Mr. Teo Soo Theow and Mr. Teo Kah. She was a member of the Hock Yan Lian Hoot Huay (Buddhist Association). Mr. Teo Hong, Teo Soo Piah, Teo Soo Teow and Teo Kah thanked all who attended the funeral of the late Mrs. Teo Hong nee Ang Cheok Neo on 6th December 1936. It is fortunate that Madam Ang Cheok Neo name is clearly listed in the tomb that we can make th...

Tan Sri Koo Chong Kong - Lest We Forget

Koo Chong Kong (1925-14 November 1975) was born in China. Due to civil war there, he left with some of his family members and settled first at Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. From there, he moved to Ipoh where he studied in Anglo Chinese School in Ipoh. During the Japanese occupation, he joined the resistance movement, becoming a liaison officer with the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army and his comrades in arms included top communist such as Chen Tien. Post Japanese occupation, he refused to joined the Communist when emergency was declared in 1948. The communist decided to eliminate him as he knew too much and several attempts were indeed made. Koo Chong Kong moved to Sarawak in 1950 for refugee. He joined the Sarawak Constabulary in 1952 before being sent to Hendon Police College in Britain in 1955 where he won the "Baton of Honour". In 1963 he was honoured with the Colonial Police Medal. He was made a Datuk by the Governor of Sarawak, Tuanku Haji Bujang. Promoted to Ass...

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...

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