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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 Merchant

Posts

Yap Geok Song's Pineapple Factory off Grove Road

November 18, 2025

Building Plans Merchant

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Lee Siew Kow and family (Kopi Sua)

Family - Lee Pang Kok kopi sua Merchant whitley cemetery

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Yeo Ban Keng (Bukit Brown)

September 13, 2020

Architecture Banking Block 1 Division B Bukit Brown Hill 1 Merchant

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Kiong Kong Tuan and family (Kopi Sua)

kopi sua Merchant Opium and Spirit Farmer

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Tan Chian and family (Kopi Sua)

November 27, 2018

kopi sua Merchant video war whitley cemetery

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Oh Sian Guan (Bukit Brown)

Banking Block 3 Div D Bukit Brown Family - Oh Sian Guan Hill 3 Merchant

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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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Bertram Yong Shee Jen (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

I came across this obelisk shape tomb while exploring the Christian section of the Chao Chu Kang Cemetery. It carried the following words: In ever loving and proud memory of a very dear and fine son 2LT. BERTRAM YONG SHEE JEN (Singapore Air Defence Command) who died in the course of duty 6th January 1951 8th November 1971 "THY WILL BE DONE" On the back, engraved are the names of his family: 2LT. Bertram Yong Shee Jen, fourth son of Dr. & Mrs. Yong Kon Vui, brother of Victor Yong Shee Hueng, Leslie Yong Shee Keong, Yong Shee Bok and Jeanette Yong Second-Lieutnant Bertram Yong of Singapore Air Defence Command was 20 years old when his Hunter jet crashed into a hill in Central Wales during a training flight. His British instructor also died in the mishap. A student of Anglo-Chinese School, Barker Road, he excelled in the sports ( a national champion sprinter) and also became the first Singapore Air Defence Cadet to receive the best trainee award. The bo...

Teo Hoo Lye (Bukit Brown)

Teo Hoo Lye (1853-1933) Teo Hoo Lye (18 Oct 1853- 16 Nov 1933) was born in China and came to Singapore when he was 18. Like many stories of rags to riches of the early pioneers, Teo Hoo Lye worked from ground up, starting as a manual labourer, saving money to open a small grocer business called chop Soon Bee in Rochore Road. At the age of 25 he went to the Natuna and Anambas Islands and got into the copra (extracted for its coconut oil) business which was a valuable commercial product then. This then led him to expand and become a steamship owner (Aing Hong, Flevo, Batavier, Benuit, etc) and he became a consignee of ships for the export of copra, sago, rubber, etc from Natuna to Singapore and also to Sarawak. His company, Teo Hoo Lye S.S. Co. (or Soon Bee Steamship Co.) was eventually liquidated in 1935, for half a million dollars (by his trustees after his death) and 12 steamships such as Willy o' the Wisp, Massima, Huat Chiang among others bought up by Heap Eng Moh Steamsh...

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 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...

Bukit Brown Wayfinder Trail (Bukit Brown)

The Bukit Brown self-guided wayfinder trail was touted by the Straits Times as the first self-guided trail guide . Well, factually it was not. When i first explored Bukit Brown, there was already a self-guided trail guide that was put in place by the Asia Paranormal Investigators (www.api.sg) way back in 2011 as part of the Save Bukit Brown Project. It was thanks to this initiative and the birdwatching tours organised by Nature Society, Singapore that made me grow fond of this place and raise my awareness of the importance of this place as a heritage park. Self-guided trail by API in 2011 Fast forward to 18 November 2017, the self guided Wayfinder trail launched concept and goal is very much the same, but with a huge difference as well. What makes this initiative different from the one i experience in 2011 is the role of the Government in this. It saw various civic society groups, (All Things Bukit Brown, Singapore Heritage Society, Nature Society, Singapore ) working closel...

Jewish Cemetery at Choa Chu Kang Singapore

This is my blog experience of my visit to the Jewish Cemetery in Choa Chu Kang on 17 November 2024. The visit was made possible via My Community Festival - My Last Journey. During this tour i learned a lot from Rabbi Nissim Zawdy (a young Rabbi from The Chesed-El Synagogue at Oxley Rise River Valley). During our visit Rabbi Nissim eloquently and patiently explained to us the story of the Jewish Community in Singapore, the Jewish Cemeteries that exist as well as finally the Jewish funeral rites and practices in Singapore. He also answered many curious questions that we may have about the Jewish customs and rites. Disclaimer: If there is any mistakes in my interpretation, it is solely by me and not associated to Rabbi Nissim nor the volunteer guides of MyCommunity. At the entrance of the Jewish Cemetery in Choa Chu Kang, i am greeted by a sign in Hebrew. Curious to understand what it was trying to say, i used AI to interpret it for me. The plaque with the Hebrew text at the entrance...

Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers (former Bidadari Cemetery)

George Edward Noel Oehlers / George E N Oehlers / Geno Oehlers (1 April 1908- 27 October 1968) was educated at St. Andrew's School and Raffles Institution, George Edward Noel Oehlers was called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) in 1931 and to the Singapore Bar in March 1932. He practiced as advocate and solicitor in Singapore until he was appointed Speaker designate of Singapore Legislative Assembly in December 1954. He was appointed First Speaker of the Singapore Legislative Assembly in 1 June 1960. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers was knighted in 1958 making him the first Eurasian in Singapore to be knighted. Other positions he held throughout his career included being the President of the Industrial Arbitration Court (1965) and Chairman of the Public Utilities Board, Singapore. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers passed away due at his residence in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur at the age of 60 on 27 October 1968 in Kuala Lumpur age 60 and was cremated on 28 Oc...

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. ...

Mrs. Cheang Keng Lam nee Ching Guat Loon (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Cheang Keng Lam nee Madam Ching Guat Loon passed away at the age of 67 at her residence, No. 27 Lorong 25-A, Geylang Road on 13 December 1938. She leaves behind her only son, Cheang Eng Cheong, 2 daughters, 1 son-in-law, Lim Say Hin, 1 daughter-in-law and 11 grandchildren. Affectionate Mourners; Son: Cheang Eng Cheong Daughters: Cheang Swee Ghee, Cheang Kiong Ghee Daughter-in-law: Tan Chwee Hock Grandsons: Cheang Keng Hock Cheang Keng Chuan Granddaughters: Cheang Keng Choon, Cheang Soon Neo Mrs. Cheang Keng Lam nee Madam Ching Guat Loon Family Son: Cheang Eng Cheong Cheang Eng Cheong worked for Shell and was one of the recipients of 35 years' service. This was reported on 11 February 1953. A shocking article dated 20 April gave me further insight that all was not well at home. Cheang Eng Cheong of Guillemard Road reported an anonymous letter outside his door on 8 Jan 1953 which threatened him with assault. He took the letter to the police. A few days later the police came and ...

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...

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