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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 malay words

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Tay Cheng Yam (Kopi Sua)

September 22, 2025

kopi sua malay words

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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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Tan Hoo Chwee - founder of Kian Seng Huat (Kopi Sua)

Today was an interesting day as i was fortunate to join Raymond Goh as he brought the granddaughter of Tan Hoo Chwee to help her find her grandfather's tomb. Elsie Tan use to visit in the past together with her father, Tan Tee Seng and later on her relatives to visit the tomb. We were joined by 3 students from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) who were doing a documentary project as part of their degree and i must say the topic is very interesting and challenging at the same time focusing on Elsie Tan and her links to the tomb mason business in Kheam Hock Road and more specifically on Kian Seng Huat whose founder's tomb - Tan Hoo Chwee we were trying to find at Kopi Sua (Whitley Road Hokkien Cemetery). Finding Tan Hoo Chwee's tomb Back to the story at hand, Elsie Tan remembered parking at Onraet Road (nearer to Whitley Detention Centre) and after a brief walk along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) arrived at the tomb of her grandfather, Tan Hoo Chwee which was not far ...

Miracles do happen - restoration of the tomb of Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo (2025)

It was just on 27 July 2025, i shared on the condition of the tomb of Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo who passed away at the age of 71 on 3 July 1939. It was a tomb i passed by over the years and happen to wrote about her before and took a number of photos over the years. In my recent visit in July 2025, i was shocked by the intensive damaged cause by a fig tree that grew out of the altar table and commented that in another 3-5 years if nothing is done, this tomb will likely no longer be visible. A wonderful thing happened because on 30 September 2025, the great granddaughter of Madam Lim Keok Neo reached out to me and the long story short, she helped to restore the tomb. It was today i manage to visit the tomb again and i am so happy to see the efforts put to maintain it. I applaud her in honoring her great grandmother's memory. Below is what it looks like now. Tomb of Mrs. Koh Cheng Kiat nee Madam Lim Keok Neo (photo taken on 4 October 202...

Teo Soon Kim (pioneer female lawyer)

Teo Soon Kim (1904-1978) was a pioneer female lawyer, becoming the first Singapore woman to be admitted to the bar of the Straits Settlements in 1929 and the first woman barrister in Hong Kong. She studied in London and was the second Malayan Chinese woman to qualify as a barrister in England. Her female contemporary during the same period was Miss Lim Beng Hong ( Mrs B. H. Oon ) of Penang, who won the honors as the first Chinese Malayan woman admitted to the English bar and the first woman qualified to practice law in Malaya in 1927. After her came Miss Lucy See (daughter of See Tiong Wah ) and Miss Teo Soon Kim, both from Singapore and finally Miss Lim Beng Teik (younger sister of Miss Lim Beng Hong). Miss Teo Soon Kim went to England in 1926 and for 3 years she studied and was mentored by Dr H. H Bellot, Secretary of the International Law Association and Grotius Society and finally called to the Bar in the Inner Temple. She even found time to travel to America and China. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Kee Keng Pye (Kopi Sua)

Kee Keng Pye passed away at the age of 60 on 28 January 1939. Listed on his tomb are the name of his children; Sons: Kee Nai Siong, Kee Thiam Whatt, Kee Thiam Beng, Kee Thiam Bee, Kee Thiam Khee Grandson: Kee Ah Tye Granddaughters: Kee Ei Choo, Kee Gier Choo Kee Keng Pye Family Son: Kee Nia Seong / Kee Nai Siong The marriage took place on 22 October 1933 at No. 83 Neil Road between Mr. Kee Nia Seong (eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Kee Keng Pye) and Miss Tan Lin Neo (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tan Cheng). Kee Nai Siong was the Teasurer of the Nanyang Kee Sie Kong Huay in 1952. The President at the time was Mr. Kee Koh Keong, Secretary, Kee Boon Thee. The Kong Huay was established in September 1951 and had about 230 members. Location of tomb A few meters above the tomb of Tan Hoo Chwee

Tan Boo Liat (Bukit Brown)

Tan Boo Liat (陈武烈 1875-1934) was born into a well known and established family in Singapore. He is the son of Tan Soon Toh (1853-1892), the grandson of Tan Kim Ching , (陈金钟, 1829-1892) and great grandson of Tan Tock Seng (陈笃生, 1798-1850). Tan Boo Liat was one of the pioneer members of the Straits Chinese British Association when it was first formed in 1900. The President of the Association was Tan Jiak Kim and Vice President, Seah Liang Seah. He was the owner of the mansion called Golden Bell Mansion (named after his grandfather, Tan Kim Ching ) in Mount. Faber. On December 15, 1911, Chinese revolutionary leader Dr. Sun Yat Sen, stayed the night here, immediately after his arrival from Europe. Tan Boo Liat was instrumental in the formation of the Singapore Chinese Girl School (Sing Po Chung Kwo Hsio Tang) located at Hill Street in 1899. The President then was Lew Yuk Lin (Chinese Consul) and Vice Presidents; Khoo Seok Wan and Tan Hap Seng , Treasurer;...

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