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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 Kuching

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Miss Joanna Tan and Dominic Tan Guan Chin (St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching Catholic Cemetery)

Catholic Died Young Kuching

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Baby Theresa Chan (St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching Catholic Cemetery)

Catholic Died Young Kuching

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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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Madam Sim Ah Tah (Kopi Sua)

Madam Sim Ah Tah passed away at the age of 70 on 9:30 am, 7 July 1949 at No. 761, North Bridge Road leaving behind 3 sons, Messrs. Chua Ah Kim (proprietor of Chua Kim Hee, Electric Co.), Chua Kim Seng, Chua Kim Suan, 3 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren. From Madam Sim Ah Tah tomb, Sons: Chua Kim Hee, Chua Kim Seng, Chua Kim Suan Grandsons: Chua Hai Chwee, Chua Hai Hee, Chua Hai Bin, Chua Hai Hoe, Chua Hai Kow Son: Chua Kim Hee / Chua Ah Kim Chua Kim Hee's company - Chua Kim Hee Electric Co., was the company that provided the Electric, Gas & Sanitation for the The New 7-Storey Hotel & Restaurant at Rochore Road which had its grand opening on 26 April 1953. (That building no longer exist). Chua Kim Hee Electric Co., was located at 761 North Bridge Road and was said to have more than 20 years of experience in this field. The company encounter financial issues and on 28 July 1960 there was an article of Chua Ah Kim trading as Chua Kim Hee Elec...

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...

Unique tomb with Immortals (Bukit Brown)

I have walked and combed Hill 2 in the vicinity of See Tiong Wah's tomb many times. In this particular trip, i explored the tombs downhill towards the direction of the stream. A tomb which was exhumed sometime ago caught my eye. The guardian statues that flank it looked very different from the rest of ones i seen in Bukit Brown before. Taking a closer look, true enough -it was statutes of 2 men ! With the help of Bukit Brown community, i found out that they represented two of the Eight Immortals (八仙). The statute on the far left is Iron-Crutch Li ( Li Tieguai) 鐵拐李 while on the right is Han Zhongli (Zhongli Quan) 钟离权 Iron-Crutch Li (Tieguai Li)鐵拐李 Han Zhongli (Zhongli Quan) 钟离权 I am not familiar nor i am expert with the stories and legends about the Eight Immortals, so what i will do is highlight some of the resources online that i found useful. The tomb occupant: Poh Soon Cheow Poh Soon Cheow was born on September 24, 1874 and died on July 13, 1928....

Madam Tijah - Beloved Nursing Mother (Bukit Brown)

After up righting the fallen marble headstone, i was truly stunned. It was something i never encountered before after more than a decade exploring Bukit Brown and reaffirms that fact there is still new discoveries to be uncovered. The headstone with lead etching reads; No. 93 G, In Loving Memory of Madam Tijah Beloved Nursing Mother of Madam Peck Swee Eng Swee Kim & Swee Geok Died 24th August 1928 Chinese 10th Day of 7th Moon Madam Tijah - beloved nursing mother This is an amazing discovery from so many angles ! From the burial registrar, Madam Tijah was 56 years old when she passed away. So many questions went through my mind Was Madam Tijah a malay woman buried in Bukit Brown or Tijah was just a nickname ? Was this tomb erected by Madam Peck Swee Eng, Peck Swee Kim and Peck Swee Geok to honor Tijah as their nursing mother or was Madam Tijah the nursing mother of this women's children? It is my first time seeing the words - NURSING MOTHER etched on th...

Kung Tian Siong and family (Bukit Brown)

Kung Tian Siong and Siauw Mah Li Kung Tian Siong (T.S. Kung) was born in 1876 in Malacca. He later was educated in Anglo Chinese School in Singapore. T.S Kung was the managing proprietor of the Empire Cinema, manager of the Liberty Hall and director of Pontianak Gold Dredging Concessions, Limited. He was also the managing director of the Harima Hall, during which the manager was Tan Chong Chew. The President of the Straits Chinese Recreational Club, he was also a committee member of the Chinese Swimming Club and secretary and manager of the Garden Club and a member of the Straits Chinese British Association. He was a staunch Christian and a preacher who preached in Geylang and Bedok Methodist Church. Cinema magnate and preacher man Empire Cinema was open in 1916. It was located at the junction of South Bridge Road, Tanjong Pagar Road and Neil Road (opposite Kreta Ayer Police station). T.S. Kung sold of the theatre in March 19, 1928. He also bought Harima Hal...

Yeo Teck Hock (Bukit Brown)

Yeo Teck Hock was with the Union Insurance Society of Canton and was the Vice-President of the Gunong Sayang Association (1935). He was also the Hon. Treasurer of the United Confederate Funeral Association (Clubhouse at No 2151-Joo Chiat Road). Yeo Teck Hock passed away at the age of 74 on 4th October 1954. He is survived by 2 sons, Yeo Koon Yam and Yeo Koon Kim, 5 daughters, 5 sons-in-law, 2 grand daughter-in-law and several grandchildren. The cortege left from No. 5 Valley Road. Mrs. Yeo Teck Hock nee Lee Eng Lee passed away at the age of 53 at No 83-A Haig Road on 18 November 1936. She leaves behind her husband, 2 sons (Yeo Koon Yam, Yeo Koon Kim), 2 sons-in-law (Kwek Peng Ewe, Seow Khiam Hock), 5 daughters and 2 grandsons. From their tombs, the name of their children; Son: Yeo Koon Yam, Yeo Koon Kim Daughter: Yeo Im Neo, Yeo Pang Neo, Yeo Bee Neo, Yeo Cheng Neo, Yeo Mui Neo Grandson: Seow Sim Kuah Yeo Teck Hock Family Son: Yeo Koon Yam Yeo Koon Yam (eldest son of M...

Seow Eng Tin (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Seow Eng Tin was a Manager and was a Director of the Chinese Commercial Bank, Limited and owned land in Johore. Mr. Seow Eng Tin passed away at the age of 55 on 17 October 1929. His address was stated as 75 Neil Road. He leaves behind a widow, two sons, Messrs. Seow Tiong Teck and Seow Tiong Soo, one daughter, Mrs. Koh Kong Guan, one grandson and 2 granddaughters. When Mr. Seow Eng Tin passed away the left a large amounting to $190,000 in Singapore and $152,000 in Johore. Seow Eng Tin Mrs. Seow Eng Tin, nee Madame Tan Keng Neo, died at her residence. No. 75, Neil Road, Singapore at the age of 56 on 11 September 1935. Madam Tan Keng Neo leaves behind two sons, Messrs. Seow Tiong Teck and Seow Tiong Soo (both of the Universal Motor Accessory Co.) and one daughter, Mrs. Koh Kong Guan, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law and 4 grandchildren. Madam Tan Keng Neo Bold Impersonation A chinese hokkien man sporting a mackintosh and fashionable f...

The story behind the iconic fig tree in Bukit Brown- Teo Chye Neo found

Madam Teo Chye Neo who lived in 40-A Onan Road was stab in the face and neck after a quarrel with a 16 year old Hylam Boy by the name of Yeo Tin Keng alias Ah Neok (Little Boy) who was employed as a cook in the deceased 's house at 10am in the morning of 23 June 1933. She died as result of extensive hemorrhage. It was also understood that Teo Chye Neo (who was married to Tan Siang Hee) had been pregnant for 7 months. Teo Chye Neo passed away at the age of 27 and was buried in Bukit Brown on 25 June 1933. Her burial entry is at Block 3 Section D, plot 373. Today we tried to find Teo Chye Neo and her unborn child. We found that a huge fig tree, a landmark in Bukit Brown hill 3 as taken over. Tombkeeper Queenie confirmed that there used to be a tomb there when she was young but even back as young lady, the fig tree with it aerial roots hanging down its branches has slowly enveloped the headstone. The fig tree that has engulfed the tomb of Madam Teo Chye Neo The fig tree w...

Mrs. Choa Kim Keat nee Tan Hoon Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Tan Hoon Neo is the wife of Mr Choa Kim Keat. She passed away peacefully at the age of 77 on 1 February 1935 in 149 Neil Road. She is survived by 1 son, Choa Joon Hean , 2 daughters, 1 adopted daughter and 25 grandchildren. On her tomb, her date of birth is listed as 11 Day of 2nd Chinese Moon. The names of her children and grandchildren listed on the tomb are as follows; Son: Choa Joon Hean Daughters: Choa Yong Neo, Choa Poh Neo, Choa Hah Neo Grandchildren: Choa Watt Chiang Eric, Choa Watt Seng Walter, Choa Kwee Neo Jean, Choa Kim Neo, Nancy Tan Hoon Neo is the daughter of Mr. Tan Kim Ching, grand daughter of Mr. Tan Tock Seng. Mrs. Choa Kim Keat nee Madam Tan Hoo Neo Husband: Choa Kim Keat Choa Kim Keat was the only son of Choa Kai Hoon who came down from Malacca to Singapore and joined Choa Boon Buan & Co. (chop Khye Guan Tong), a Commission Agent in Boat Quay. Choa Kai Hoon eventually succeeded his brother Choa Chuan Ghio as the Manager ( bran...

Tan Jiak Kim (former Alexandra Cemetery)

Tan Jiak Kim, J.P. C.M.G. / 陈若锦 was born in Singapore on 29 April 1859 and came from an old and respected family. His grandfather was Tan Kim Seng, the founder of Kim Seng and Co, and a well known public benefactor. When he passed away in 1863, his son, Tan Beng Swee (Tan Jiak Kim's father) succeeded as head of the firm and was also a well known public figure in Singapore and Malacca. Educated privately, he entered the firm of Kim Seng and Co, as apprentice at the age of 18 where he gain business experience. After the death of his father, Mr. Tan Beng Swee in 1884, he was taken into partnership by his uncle, Mr. Tan Beng Gum . Tan Jiak Kim was also one of the founders of the Straits Steamships Company Ltd, a Director of the United Singapore Rubber Estates Ltd. In 1886, Tan Jiak Kim was elected a Municipal Commissioner and 1889 appointed as a member of the Legislative Council until he resigned in May 1915 when he resigned due to health reasons. On 1st January 1912 he was presented ...

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