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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 Republic of China

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Too Nam (Cheras Christian Cemetery)

August 17, 2025

Cheras Christian Cemetery Republic of China Tongmenghui video

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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

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...

Madam Lee Lai Neo (Toa Payoh Cemetery)

The marble tomb of Lee Lai Neo is all in English. Madam Lee Lai Neo passed away at the age of 62 on 22 February 1947. Listed on her tomb are the names of her children; Son: Ong Kee Choo Daughters: Ong Chwee Lian, Ong Lian Neo Grandsons: Stevan Ong, Freman Tan Granddaughters: Whylin Tan, Everline Tan, Roselin Tan Location Its location can be access from a path along Hill 3 Division C that forks to a dirt track that leads to Gymkhana. Right at the start of that path is a tombkeepers hut that goes to Toa Payoh Hokkien Cemetery or colloquially known as Gelong Pah 黎弄吧.

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...

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...

Soh Hong Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Soh Hong Soon tomb is very interesting as it is a large tomb that is very close to the tar road but yet often missed and overgrown. The only article i found of Soh Hong Soon was an article that that states that Soh Hong Soon passed away at his residence, No 3 Stanley Street on 22 June 1928 at the ripe old age of 94. He is the father of Soh Peng Lim and grandfather of Soh Yew Guan. On the tomb itself it states that Soh Hong Soon is born on 27th May 1835 and passed away on 22 June 1928. Listed are the name of 1 son; Soh Peng Lim, 3 grandsons: Soh Yew Chin, Soh Yew Guan, Soh Yew Kiat, 1 grand-daughter; Soh Chit Choo, 3 great grandsons; Soh Giow Sian, Soh Giow Chuan, Soh Giow Poey. Unfortunately, i do not have much information at the moment about Soh Hong Soon. Soh Hong Soon Soh Hong Soon tomb in Block 3 Division A Beautiful decorative sculpture Son: Soh Peng Lim Soh Peng Lim was a Secretary of the United Singapore Rubber Estates, Ltd. The fi...

Ng Boo Bee (Taiping)

Ng Boo Bee (1853-1921) 黄务美, was born and educated in Fujian, China before making his way to Malaya, first in Penang before eventually making a name for himself in the State of Perak. His father is Ng Koh Sung and mother, U Choot Kwah. He started out as a brick manufacturer and timber merchant under the name of Chop Swee Bee in Taiping, Ipoh and Teluk Anson. In Taiping, he acquired the tender contract as a railway contractor under Mr. C.R. Hanson, Resident Engineer for Perak Railways and was probably responsible for the building of the first railway in Malaya which connected Taiping to Port Weld. It was during this time he shrewdly acquired land around Kamunting. Ng Boo Bee Millionaire tin miner The land purchases around Kamunting made Ng Boo Bee a millionaire and with that he acquired also various houses in Taiping and also Penang. The Governor of the Straits Settlement, Sir John Anderson visited Ng Boo Bee tin mine in 1908 which had at that time, employed 4,500...

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...

Chew Boon Lay (Bukit Brown)

Chew Boon Lay (周文礼) (1852-1933) was born in a small village in Changchow, Amoy. He became an orphan in his late teens and decided to take up his uncle's invitation to come over to Siam (formerly Thailand). He laboured hard under this tyrant of an uncle who paid him nothing and made him work from dawn to dust. Chew Boon Lay and Madam Ong Cheng Neo Saved by heavenly intervention On a faithful evening, 3 years after being practically been a slave, a visitor was said to have stole a sum of money and this uncle put the entire blame on Chew Boon Lay and threatened to turn him in to the police. In desperation, Chew Boon Lay came up with an idea to win the money through a stake on a lottery. Borrowing 1 tical from his sympathetic aunt, he prayed before Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy and in a moment of delirium or what is said a miracle, he heard two characters been spoken to him. He won, paid his uncle and with whatever left over vowed never to work for his uncle again and we...

Khoo Yang Tin and family (Bukit Brown)

Khoo Yang Tin was a rice trader and was a Director of the Chinese Commercial Bank where other prominent chinese pioneers were in the Board of Directors. They included Mr. Lee Choon Guan (Chairman), Dr. Lim Boon Keng (Vice-Chairman), Lim Nee Soon , S.Q. Wong, Lee Kong Chian and many others over the years. With his wealth, he also bought many land all over Singapore. Khoo Yang Tin passed away at the age of 87 at his residence, 358 River Valley Road on 25 December 2603 (1943). He is survived by; His 2 widows, 5 sons: Khoo Teck Soon, Khoo Teck Chuan, Khoo Teck Puat, Khoo Teck Imm, Khoo Teck Quee 5 daughters: Khoo Tiam Tee, Khoo Ai Tee, Khoo Suat Ngoh, Khoo Suat Khim and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. The funeral took place on 31 December 1943. The executors of the estate of Khoo Yang Tin were Messrs. Khoo Teck Soon, Khoo Teck Chuan and Khoo Teck Puat Khoo Yang Tian Wife: Madam Yeo Kim Chiam Mrs. Khoo Yang Tin nee Yeo Kim Chiam passed away ...

Mrs. Lim Tiang Soon nee Ang Nya Chik (Bukit Brown)

The death took place on 4 July 1937 of Mrs. Lim Tiang Soon nee Madam Ang Nya Chik, Singapore octogenarian and third daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ang Kim San of Malacca, at her residence, 376 Race Course Road. According to the newspaper article, Madam Ang Nya Chik was 83 years old when she passed away and leaves behind 22 descendants, a son - Mr. Lim Kee Cheok, 2 daughters, Mrs. Chua Kim Swee and Mrs. Lim Bachik, 6 grandsons, 7 granddaughters, 3 great grandsons and 3 great daughters. From her tomb, i can gather that Madam Ang Nya Chik was born on 16 February 1858 and passed away on 4 July 1937. (Roughly 79-80). From her marble tomb, after some careful cleaning, we manage to make out the names of her children; Son: Lim Kee Cheok Grandsons; Lim Inn, Lim Chui Tor George, Lim Chui Chye Arthur Great grandsons: Lim Cheng Hye, Lim Cheng Hock Daughters: Lim Hock Neo, Lim (Teo) Hood Neo Granddaughters: Lim Chui Lian, Lim Geng Neo Great granddaughters: Rosie Lim...

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