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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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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)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

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Popular Post

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 Pah...

Muslim tombstone at Bidadari Park

I have been visiting again Bidadari after the Bidadari Park reopened to residents surrounding the neighbourhood as well as the birding community. I haven birding in that area before its closure almost 8 years ago and during that time, i still do see remnants of old batu nisan at the Muslim section at the cemetery. While bird watching today, i also kept a look on the grounds to see if any headstones remain and to my surprise i found one large one which documented. This was found on the park grounds closer to Bidadari Park Drive and surprisingly just next to the walking path. Muslim tombstone / Batu Nisan at Bidadari Park - 18 December 2024 Past Discoveries Below are some of my observations of the space during 2012 to 2016 time line. Grave stone markers (E404 and G 239 ) Past post on Bidadari Trumpter Hornbill in Bidadari (April 18, 2016), posted on April 19, 2016 Birdwatching in Bidadari (January 10, 2016), posted on January 20, 2016 Birdwatching in Bi...

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...

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...

Wee Kiong Chiang of the Chinese Labour Corps (Kranji War Memorial)

The below picture is the military grave marker for Wee Kiong Chiang, who served in the Chinese Labour Corps and died during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore on 9 April 1945. His service number was CL/48. He is the husband of Madam Sim Kiew End of Bedok, Singapore. The Chinese characters (when read together from right to left (traditional Chinese reading direction) on the tombstone are 鞠躬盡瘁 which translates literally as "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH". Another eloquent translation: Be loyal and devoted to the end. The full phrase is 鞠躬尽瘁死而后已 which can be traced from the 3 kingdom stories which describes the devotion of Zhuge Liang to the Shu Han cause at the death bed of Liu Bei. To me what is most interesting is the Chinese Labour Corps. I didn't know there was there even one. Who were they and what did they do during the war. Read on for my basic research and what i discovered so far. (Do note there is also ample research for the Chinese Labour Corps but that vers...

Madam Tan Kiok Neo (Kopi Sua)

Madam Tan Kiok Neo passed away at the age of 74 on 15 December 1949. Sons: Lee Chong Bee, Lee Chong Kung, Lee Chong Tin Daughters: Lee Siew Eng, Lee Siew Hiong Grandsons: Lee Eng Soon, Lee Eng Seng Granddaughters: Lee Suat Ngoh, Lee Suat Chen, Lee Chuay ?, Lee Guat Ngoh, Lee Eng Guan, Lee Eng ?, Lee Eng Hoon In an article dated 25 September 1958, there was mentioned of a Peter Lee Phuay who passed away at the age of 84. He is the father of Mrs. Cheong Ah Khoo, Mrs. Tan Chong Eng, Leong Chong Nee, Lee Chong Kang, Lee Chong Tin. The cortege left from No. 25 Lorong 15 for Queen of Peace Church and after that Bidadari. (This is one possible lead i have). Madam Tan Kiok Neo Madam Tan Kiok Neo What is interesting about this tomb which i learned from Raymond Goh is the meaning of the words beneath her age which is hokkien for the ancestral town or village she is from Hokkien Tang Owah Kwao Bauy Hung Hai Pee Khoo Tan Por Aw Pee Sia Location...

Relocated tombs from Heng San Teng (Kopi Sua Cemetery)

If you visit the Whitley Road Cemetery also colloquially known as Kopi Sua, there lies a cluster of tombs, each close to each other and each with only headstones. Many of this stones dates back to late 1800s and are from the Heng Sang Teng Cemetery at Silat Road where the Singapore General Hospital is now. What is also interesting are jars that store skeletal remains of the exhumed dead are also visible in concrete container holding areas. The Heng San Teng temple and its public cemetery was established by Seet Hoot Keh (1793-1847) a prominent Hokkien. Born in Malacca, he made his wealth in tin mining before setting business in Singapore during the time when Singapore began to prosper as a British colony and port of call. In 1828, Seet Hoot Keh established the Heng San Teng temple. He eventually retired in Malacca and pass away in 1847. and is survived by 6 sons and 11 daughters. Among them are his grandson, See Ewe Lay (owner of the first Chinese paper, Lat Pau) and his great gra...

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...

Tan Swee Hoe mansion in Batu Pahat

The status of Tan Swee Hoe's mansion at 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Pahat was finally revealed! The mansion that was once owned by Tan Swee Hoe's descendants was sold and the rumors circulating at one point of time was it was going to be demolished. In fact various readers of my blog sent me pictures of the mansion after it was sold where the rooftop of the building and the interiors was completely stripped. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion (minus the roof) Well it was finally revealed in various Malaysian papers ( Sin Chew Daily , Johor China Press ) that it was purchased by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan of Johor. It was reported in the papers that the Sultan of Johor plans to restore the building and turn it into a Heritage Centre featuring the artefacts of the Johor Chinese community as well as as artefacts from China as a strong symbol to reaffirm the long relationship between the Johor Sultanate and China. About Tan Swee Hoe Tan Swee Hoe T...

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