Skip to main content

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.

Search This Blog

Home
Bukit Brown
Bidadari Christian Cemetery
Rojak Librarian+
Sitemap

Posts

Ho Siak Kuan cluster revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed Family - Ho Siak Kuan former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Tan Huck Khong revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Poh Cheng Tee and family revisited (Mandai Columbarium)

January 11, 2025

exhumed former Bukit Brown cemetery Mandai Columbarium

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Newspaper mentions (2024 - Heng San Teng Boundary Marker)

January 04, 2025

Boundary Marker Heng San Teng newspaper mentions

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Mrs. Chua Ah Siah nee Madam Tan Sim Ai (Bukit Brown)

January 04, 2025

Block 3 Div A Hill 3

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Muslim tombstone at Bidadari Park

December 18, 2024

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Madam Tan Kiok Neo (Kopi Sua)

December 16, 2024

kopi sua Plus Codes whitley cemetery

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Christian Cemetery Serangoon Road Burial Receipt (Syonan Tokubetu Si)

December 16, 2024

Bukit Brown Burial Receipt Burial Registrar

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Madam Sim Ah Tah (Kopi Sua)

December 15, 2024

kopi sua whitley cemetery

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Mrs. Chung Boon Teck nee Madam Yeo Koon Geok (Kopi Sua)

December 14, 2024

kopi sua whitley cemetery

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Wee Sian Jim (Kopi Sua)

December 14, 2024

kopi sua Plus Codes whitley cemetery

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Cheong Hock Chye (Kopi Sua)

December 14, 2024

kopi sua Plus Codes whitley cemetery

+

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Labels

Bukit Brown961
Hill 3318
Hill 1185
Hill 4165
Died Young145
decorative tiles135
Block 3 Div D131
Block 4 Div A115
Hill 297
Block 3 Div B86

Show more Show less

Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

Total Pageviews

Subscribe to Youtube Channel

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)

Rojak Librarian+ (other Rojak matters)

Archive

2025 21
- February 1
  - Madam Lee Poh Neo (Lao Sua)
- January 20

2024 188
- December 18
- November 12
- October 26
- September 32
- August 21
- July 7
- June 11
- May 15
- April 14
- March 16
- February 7
- January 9
2023 168
- December 10
- November 7
- October 12
- September 20
- August 10
- July 9
- June 31
- May 18
- April 5
- March 12
- February 12
- January 22
2022 237
- December 11
- November 15
- October 20
- September 6
- August 15
- July 15
- June 12
- May 6
- April 17
- March 37
- February 54
- January 29
2021 326
- December 19
- November 47
- October 36
- September 24
- August 27
- July 31
- June 25
- May 20
- April 17
- March 28
- February 26
- January 26
2020 112
- December 13
- November 20
- October 13
- September 11
- August 8
- July 7
- June 6
- May 8
- April 6
- March 6
- February 6
- January 8
2019 52
- December 1
- October 2
- September 5
- August 4
- July 8
- June 7
- May 4
- April 4
- March 6
- February 4
- January 7
2018 53
- December 2
- November 4
- October 4
- September 5
- August 9
- July 9
- June 3
- April 2
- March 5
- February 5
- January 5
2017 52
- December 1
- November 1
- October 1
- September 2
- August 4
- July 7
- June 8
- May 3
- April 8
- March 6
- February 4
- January 7
2016 52
- December 4
- August 2
- July 8
- June 3
- May 8
- April 11
- March 10
- February 5
- January 1
2015 43
- December 4
- November 5
- October 3
- July 1
- June 5
- May 1
- April 6
- March 6
- February 6
- January 6
2014 92
- December 6
- November 5
- October 7
- September 5
- August 5
- July 11
- June 8
- May 10
- April 8
- March 8
- February 9
- January 10
2013 99
- December 8
- November 9
- October 9
- September 4
- August 4
- July 10
- June 8
- May 8
- April 9
- March 10
- February 10
- January 10
2012 78
- December 7
- November 6
- October 10
- September 5
- August 2
- July 5
- June 4
- May 8
- April 7
- March 9
- February 8
- January 7
2011 44
- December 7
- November 8
- October 2
- September 1
- July 2
- June 5
- May 6
- April 6
- March 3
- February 1
- January 3
2010 29
- December 4
- November 4
- October 8
- September 8
- August 3
- April 2
2008 2
- February 1
- January 1
2007 10
- November 1
- August 4
- June 4
- April 1
2006 11
- November 1
- August 1
- June 3
- March 1
- February 3
- January 2
2005 45
- November 3
- October 3
- May 1
- April 13
- March 25
2004 6
- September 3
- August 3

Show more Show less

Popular Post

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...

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...

Ko Teck Kin (Kopi Sua)

Mr. Ko Teck Kin (高德根) was born in China in Leong Kay (Hokkien Province) in 1911. He came down to Singapore at the age of 10 and went to Sumatra at 20 years old to start a business. When he returned, he worked with the shipping firm owned by his father, Mr. Ko Yam Ee and had his own business dealing in local products. Post war, he started the rubber milling business of Kah Hin Rubber Co. Ltd in which he was the managing director. His other business included Ho Chiang Shipping Co. Ltd, Ko Liong Hin, importers and exporters. and the Chin Cheng Realty Ltd. By the time time he was 42 years old in 1953, he was labelled as one of the youngest Chinese millionaires in the Singapore rubber industry. He was also the chairman of Chung Khiaw Bank. Ko Teck Kin Ko Teck Kin was the Vice-President (1952-1953) and later President of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce from 1954 to 1955, and again from 1958 to 1965. Other roles: Committee Member of Singapore Hokkien Hui Kuan; Deputy Chairman...

Madam Lee Poh Neo (Lao Sua)

Lee Poh Neo is survived by; Wee Bee Neo, Wee Geok Neo Wee Cheng Huet, Wee Cheng Wee Madam Lee Poh Neo Location of tomb 8RJF+95R Singapore

Wong Chin Yoke - a war hero (Bukit Brown)

Today, 15 February 2012 is the 70th anniversary of the fall of Singapore and this article is timely. Mr Wong Chin Yoke ( Wong Chin Yok) is buried in Hill 4 Division A where the tall Sikh guards are located, has an interesting story alerted to me recently by a posting on facebook by Raymond Goh that he was a war hero, and that got me researching further. Wong Chin Yoke King's Police Medal A detective constable for many years, rising up the ladder from a grade 5 detective in 1921 to the rank of Inspector in 1928. In 1938, he was awarded the King's Police Medal (the highest honour for policeman) for his role in suppression of subversive organisations in the Special Branch (Political Intelligence). He played a huge role in the clean-up of communist in 1929 and 1933. The previous year, 1937, he was one of the recipients of the Coronation Medal. Wong Chin Yoke receiving the King's Police Medal in 1938 A dent in his record In 1924, he accidentally sho...

Khoo Kay Hian (Bukit Brown)

During the rubber boom of the 1910, Khoo Kay Hian / Khoo Kay Hean was well positioned and made money as a rubber broker based in The Arcade. He went on to be the founder of one of the best known stock broking firm in Singapore bearing his namesake, Kay Hian and Co in 1921. He was also a committee member of the Singapore Sharebrokers' Association (this was before it became the Singapore Stock Exchange). Throughout his career, he held various positions and they included: Assistant Secretary of the Ee Hoe Hean Club (1918) ; Management Committee of the Garden Club (1920) Chinese Lantern Procession (1922), Joint Honorary Secretary together with Lim Kee Cheok. (Lim Chwee Chian was the Chairman) and also Committee member of the Singapore Chinese Girls School (1925). He contributed to various causes and some of them include: Kampong Martin Relief Fund (1916), Chinese Halifax Relief Fund (1917), Sir Arthur Young's Portrait Fund (1919), St Andrew's Hospital Building (1920), Nanyang U...

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...

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...

Mrs Koh Sek Lim nee Ang Chit Yan (Bukit Brown)

Madam Ang Chit Yan is buried in Bukit Brown, Hill 4 Section C plot no. 80. She is the wife of Mr. Koh Sek Lim whose legacy is remembered by two road named after him, Koh Sek Lim Road and Xilin Avenue. Madam Ang Chit Yan passed away at her residence Gulega Bedoh Estate, No 655-17, Padang Terbakar, Bedoh (Bedok) at 10:15 pm on Friday, 12th November 1937 at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Koh Sek Lim, 14 sons ( Koh Kong Wee , Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian and 5 others, 5 daughters-in-law, (Mrs. Koh Kong Wee, Mrs. Koh Kong Wan. Mrs. Koh Kong Seng, Mrs. Koh Kong Sun, Mrs, Koh Kong Hor, 10 daughters, 4 son-in-laws ( Yeo Eng Tiong, Wee Swee Seng, Lim Teck Seng, Lim Eng Yong and 30 grandchildren). On her tombstones, the complete names of the sons and daughters include: Sons: Koh Kong Wee , Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong H...

Tan Kim Cheok Neo alias Dolly Tan (Bukit Brown)

The tomb of Dolly Tan (Madame Tan Kim Cheok Neo) reveals many stories and yet retains its mystery till today. Madam Tan Kim Cheok Neo alias Dolly Tan passed away at the age of 29 on 8 May 1943. She is survived by 2 daughters (who was probably very young when she passed away). I could not find any more information on who Dolly Tan is, nor who the husband is, but yet her tomb reveals a number of stories; Different Calendar Systems Her tomb uses 3 different calendar systems; The Japanese Kōki Calendar on the right shoulder (皇纪) (Kōki) - 二六〇三 (2603). The Minguo Calendar on the left shoulder (民国三二) Gregorian Calendar below the altar table which reads 1943 Name written in Kanji The Second interesting point is her name itself, was written in Japanese (ドリータン) Benefactor and Friend who erected the tomb Her funeral and burial rites were arranged by two Japanese gentlemen whose names were inscribed on her tomb. Terms such as a Benefactor (施主) and Friend (友人)...

Support My Efforts

Support My Efforts

Rojak Librarian +

Heritage in S'pore and M'sia

All things Bukit Brown
Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
Bukit Brown Cemetery
Bukit Brown Trails
Burial Registrar
Bukit Brown Documentation of Graves
Singapore Heritage Society
Clarity Compass
Bukit Brown Tomb
Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore
Good morning yesterday
Oceanskies
Remember Singapore
Yesterday.sg
Bits & Pieces
Overseas Chinese in the British Empire

Nature Groups in S'pore and M'sia

Bird Ecology Study Group(Singapore)
Nature Society Singapore
Malaysian Nature Society
Singapore Environment Council
S'pore Bird Group
S'pore Butterfly Interest Group
Wild Singapore
Raffles Museum of Bio-Diversity's Habitatnews-
Nature Photographic Society (Singapore)
Oriental Bird Club
Butterfly Circle Checklist

Nature in S'pore and M'sia

Focus Ubin
National Parks(Singapore)
Mangrove Flora and fauna of Sg Buloh
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve-Wildlife Singapore
Online guide to Chek Jawa, Ubin

Bird Database & Resources

Singapore Birds
Singapore Birds Project
Birding in Malaysia
Oriental Bird Images
Xeno Canto
Birder Resource

Daily Moon Phase

Powered by Blogger

2005-2025, All Rights Reserved, Rojak Librarian