BiblioAsia Podcast

For decades, the conventional wisdom was that Singapore was “kicked out” of Malaysia. However, newly released documents in Dr Goh Keng Swee's Albatross file reveal a more complex history. In this episode, Janadas Devan, the coordinator for the Albatross File project, tells us more about the secret negotiations by Singapore’s leaders to separate from Malaysia, even as many of them still hoped to preserve a looser federation.Janadas Devan is Senior Advisor (Government Communications) of Ministry of Digital Development and Information and the Prime Minister’s Office, and Director of the Institute of Policy Studies. A former journalist, he was educated at the National University of Singapore and Cornell University in the United States.What Janadas Talked About00:00 – Introduction to the Albatross File book and exhibition04:41 – Why Singapore joined Malaysia in 196308:18 – Agreement between Lee Kuan Yew and Tunku to keep out of Malaysian politics10:25 – UMNO’s performance in Singapore general elections 12:09 – PAP’s participation in Malaysia general elections and politics15:05 – What Janadas remembers of the rallies in Malaysia16:42 – Last straw that led to separation24:46 – Goh Keng Swee’s proposal to separate25:25 – Why Lee Kuan Yew was disliked by Malaysian politicians28:54 – Why the British opposed a looser federation31:02 – Why negotiations on separation were kept secret31:50 – Opposition within Singapore leadership to the idea of looser federation34:43 – Why the narrative of Singapore being “kicked out” of Malaysia was dominant37:52 – What the Albatross file reveals about separation41:47 – Importance of archives in other countries and Lee Kuan Yew’s memoirs43:00 – Whether a looser federation would have worked44:13 – Whether Goh Keng Swee had a vision for independent Singapore47:07 – How the book and exhibition came about52:25 – Which document in the Albatross file surprised Janadas57:03 – How to begin reading the book57:45 – Possible second edition1:00:47 – The books Janadas is working onTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-untold-negotiations-behind-singapore-s-independence-in-1965/Read the related BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-1-apr-jun-2026-the-architect-of-separation/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Red Ink Media. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Janadas for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

A film studio and theme park in Jurong opened to grand fanfare in 1992. Named Tang Dynasty City, it was modelled after the ancient city of Chang’an. Despite its underground terracotta warriors and other attractions, it struggled to draw visitors, as Senior Librarian Lim Tin Seng tells us.Lim Tin Seng is a senior librarian with the National Library Singapore. He is the co-editor of of Roots: Tracing Family Histories (2013), Harmony and Development: ASEAN-China Relations (2009) and China’s New Social Policy (2010). He writes regularly for BiblioAsia.What Tin Seng Talked About00:00 – Introduction02:09 – About Tang Dynasty City03:54 – Who came up with the idea of Tang Dynasty City05:25 – Why Chang’an was picked as the city to replicate06:54 – The difficulty of getting construction materials08:34 – Movies and shows shot at Tang Dynasty City10:40 – Food options at Tang Dynasty City12:38 – Popularity of the theme park14:38 – Underground terracotta warriors15:54 – How Tang Dynasty City tried to attract more visitors19:10 – What Tin Seng enjoys about archival research20:30 – Curiocity project, on story maps23:03 – The research significance of Tin Seng’s favourite BiblioAsia article he has written26:09 – How Tin Seng’s article on Sarong Island broke new groundTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-a-tang-dynasty-city-in-singapore-flying-swordsmen-terracotta-warriors-and-pagodasRead the article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-22-issue-2-jul-sep-2026-an-ancient-chinese-city-in-jurong-/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Red Ink Media. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tin Seng for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

Giovanni Gaggino came to Singapore around 1874 and lived here for more than 40 years. During that time, he set up a successful business providing supplies to vessels passing through Singapore, he wrote an Italian-Malay dictionary and once owned the Pulau Bukom. Writer Alex Foo tells us about the life of Gaggino and his legacy.Formerly a literary arts librarian at the National Library Board, Alex Foo has written for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Orientations and ArtsEquator. Singapore history.What Alex Talked About02:32 – About Giovanni Gaggino03:57 – Why Gaggino came to Singapore in 187404:48 – The small Italian community in 19th-century Singapore05:39 – What a ship chandlery is07:18 – Acquiring and Monetising Pulau Bukom08:21 – Gaggino’s other business ventures across Asia09:18 – Writing a dictionary for trade14:13 – Gaggino’s death and unfulfilled legacy17:17 – How the story of Gaggino was reconstructed22:16 – Libraries are…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-italian-merchant-lexicographer-who-once-owned-pulau-bukom/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Alex for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

Singapore's time zone has been changed at least seven times since 1905, including during the Japanese Occupation when it was synchronised to Tokyo time. Arts librarian Kenneth Tay explains the historical context for the time zone changes, the origins of the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) system, and ways to measure time, including a rare atomic clock in a local laboratory.Kenneth Tay is a librarian with the Arts and General Reference team at the National Library Singapore. He is interested in the histories of global systems such as the internet, logistics and time zones, and where Singapore figures in them.What Kenneth Talked About03:02 – How Kenneth became interested in time zones05:09 – Why Singapore changed its time zone in 198206:43 – Why Singapore followed Malaysia’s time change08:13 – Singapore’s experiment with daylight saving time11:35 – Public reaction to Tokyo time during Japanese occupation14:05 – Re-colonising time after the war15:02 – What the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is23:42 – The time zone change in 190526:29 – Difference between UTC and GMT31:39 – Atomic clocks in the world35:23 – Whether time is arbitrary or political38:51 – How research changed Kenneth’s notion of time46:22 – Time history is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-changing-times-time-zone-changes-in-singapore-since-1905/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Kenneth for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

Hedwig Anuar was the first Malayan to head the National Library, a position she held for 23 years until 1988. She was also involved in the setting up the Singapore Book Council, National Archives of Singapore and Association of Women for Action and Research. Her daughter, Shirin Aroozoo, tells us about Anuar as a mother and a person, and about how her convictions about books, children's education and women empowerment were shaped by her upbringing and life events.Shirin Aroozoo is the daughter of Hedwig Anuar, who was the director of the National Library from 1965 to 1988.What Shirin Talked About02:40 – Growing up as the daughter of a public figure03:17 – Early childhood memories of the National Library04:57 – Hedwig Anuar’s family background and upbringing10:33 – Early signs of activism at university13:05 – Painful memories of the war16:09 – Becoming a librarian by chance19:57 – Championing children’s books and education21:12 – A quiet, bookish childhood at home25:25 – Travelling together38:21 – Libraries are…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-first-local-to-head-the-national-library-hedwig-anuar/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Shirin for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Lee Ek Tieng (1933–2025) was the civil servant who headed the clean-up of the Singapore River, had the foresight to modernise the sanitation system, and ensured water self-sufficiency for Singapore. Writer Samantha Boh tells us how he did it with his colleagues and earned their respect.Samantha Boh is a journalist and an author who covers the environment and science. She has written extensively on scientific breakthroughs in biomedical science, robotics, water resources, recycling, and food wastage over more than a decade. She is a co-author of The Last Fools, The Price of Being Fair and Lee Ek Tieng: The Green General of Lee Kuan Yew.What Samantha Talked About02:59 – About Lee Ek Tieng07:16 – Lee Ek Tieng’s key achievements12:31 – His personality and leadership style19:07 – Conflict with Economic Development Board during industrial pollution control and backing from Lee Kuan Yew24:01 – Building water self‑sufficiency29:20 – How NEWater got its name31:16 – What colleagues said about him35:31 – His hobbies and DIY spirit38:03 – Books by NutgrafTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-civil-servant-in-charge-of-clean-and-green-singapore-lee-ek-tieng-samantha-boh/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Samantha for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Before air conditioning was introduced in Singapore in the 1920s, temperature control was a matter of architectural design. Environmental historian Fiona Williamson tells us how people kept themselves cool before air conditioning arrived, why weather science was important to the colonial enterprise, and what environmental history can tell us about a city’s development.Fiona Williamson is an environmental historian with a particular interest in the history of the climate, meteorology and extreme weather in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. She is professor of environmental history at the Singapore Management University.What Fiona Talked About03:12 – How people kept cool before air conditioning05:49 – When and how air conditioning was introduced to Singapore07:53 – Who could afford early air conditioning10:19 – European reactions to tropical heat12:51 – Meteorology as a colonial science15:31 – Observational stations and instruments18:07 – Colonial attempts to manage water and flooding23:15 – The MacRitchie Reservoir mistake28:03 – Fiona’s book Imperial Weather34:19 – Fiona's work with the International Commission for the History of Meteorology36:52 – Climate history is…38:02 – Whether climate change can be reversedTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-days-before-air-conditioning-fiona-williamson/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-air-conditioning-in-singapore/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Fiona for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Jan Beránek sets out to find out what happened to his granduncle, Silvestr Němec, who left his Czech village for Singapore in 1938 and died as a volunteer during WWII. He finds Silvestr’s story woven with that of the Bata Shoe Company, the Czechoslovak community and volunteer forces in Singapore.Jan Beránek is a Czech environmentalist and an energy expert. He was born and raised in the Czech city of Brno, where he studied physics and sociology. Jan has worked for several environmental organisations and was also the chairman of the Czech Green Party. He currently lives in Amsterdam, working for Greenpeace International as Director for Organizational Strategy and Development. He is the author of In Search of Silvestr: Unravelling My Granduncle's Fate, Bata, Czechoslovaks and World War II in Singapore (Landmark Books, 2025).What Jan Talked About01:31 – Introduction to the podcast and Bata’s Singapore history02:07 – Silvestr Němec’s disappearance02:29 – Jan Beránek’s research journey03:26 – Family memories04:37 – The post-war search for Silvestr05:49 – Discovery of family letters in 201707:25 – Motivation for beginning the investigation08:45 – How Silvestr was sent to Singapore by Bata09:20 – Silvestr’s job at Bata’s flagship store10:05 – Bata’s international success and localisation11:42 – Bata’s early operations and expansion in Malaya13:17 – What made Bata successful14:11 – The Czechoslovak community in Malaya14:55 – Czechoslovaks’ impressions of colonial Singapore16:35 – Czechoslovakia during WWII and Bata’s wartime challenges22:26 – Silvestr’s service in the Volunteer Corps24:44 – What happened to Silvestr28:37 – Jan’s research process and reflections36:07 – The number of Bata shoes Jan owns36:58 – Family history is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-searching-for-family-in-the-shadows-of-war-jan-beranek/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-4-jan-mar-2026-lost-family-silvestr-nemec-war-search-czech-singapore/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Jan for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Former Straits Times editor-in-chief Cheong Yip Seng tells us how he negotiated OB markers with the government during his tenure (1987–2006), how he balanced the interests of the paper’s stakeholders, and which news story he nearly went to jail for.Cheong Yip Seng is a veteran journalist. He was editor-in-chief of the Straits Times from 1987 to 2006 and editorial adviser to the South China Morning Post from 2012 to 2020. He has written OB Markers: My Straits Times Story and Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel.What Cheong Talked About00:55 – Podcast introduction01:48 – Why a sequel to OB Markers03:21 – Differences between the two books06:24 – Events leading to Cheong's appointment as editor-in-chief11:33 – Accusations of the Straits Times (ST) as government mouthpiece17:16 – Impact of social media on traditional news18:28 – Cheong's near arrest over a leaked story20:50 – Hardest decisions as editor-in-chief21:52 – Importance of ST credibility24:06 – Cheong's principles in negotiating OB markers27:40 – Criticisms ST faced over its coverage of the 1987 “Marxist Conspiracy”29:48 – Cheong’s outlook on ST in the next two decades33:30 – Why Cheong became a journalist26:29 – Person who had the greatest intellectual impact on CheongTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-negotiating-ob-markers-when-running-straits-times-cheong-yip-seng/Read Cheong's books: OB Markers: My Straits Times Story and Ink and Influence: An OB Markers SequelSubscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Cheong for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

The Hawkins Road camp in Sembawang was home to thousands of Vietnamese refugees until it closed in 1996. Researcher Rebecca Tan talks about how the refugees spent their days in the camp and their lives after Singapore.Rebecca Tan is Digital Preservation Archivist at the National Archives of Singapore. She was previously Children and Teens Librarian at Toa Payoh Public Library, and Digital Heritage Librarian at the National Library.What Rebecca Talked About01:17 – Overview of Hawkins Road camp02:26 – Conditions in the camp03:18 – Life in the refugee camp08:08 – Singapore’s plan for long-term refugees10:17 – What the refugees said about Singapore11:20 – Singapore's evolving refugee policy14:41 – How Rebecca knew about the refugee camp15:25 – Rebecca’s research16:49 – Interview with a Hawkins Road camp refugee who still lives in Singapore22:07 – Being a librarian at Toa Payoh Public Library24:26 – The libraries and archives are...Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-25-hawkin-road-home-to-vietnamese-refugees-rebecca-tan/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://studio.isomer.gov.sg/all-sections/hawkins-road-refugee-camp/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Rebecca for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

The national anthem that we know today wasn't the original version composed by Zubir Said. His first version was longer and was set at a higher key. Emeritus Professor Bernard Tan talks about how "Majulah Singapura" came about and how it changed over the decades, and illustrates how these versions differ on his piano.Emeritus Professor Bernard T. G. Tan is a retired professor of physics from the National University of Singapore who also dabbles in music. Some of his compositions have been performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He is a former chairman of the Sing Singapore organising committee.What Prof Tan Talked About00:00 – Introduction to Singapore’s national anthem03:16 – How “Majulah Singapura” came about04:14 – Zubir Said’s composition of “Majulah Singapura”06:18 – Adoption of the anthem and its unauthorised shortening09:24 – Comparison of different versions and musical implications15:18 – Prof Tan’s detective work to verify Zubir Said’s original manuscript19:31 – Fanfare introduction and early concert arrangements22:22 – Government-led initiative to reorchestrate the anthem25:48 – Lowering the anthem’s key from G major to F major27:45 – Lee Kuan Yew’s suggestion on the anthem33:18 – Controversial arrangements of "Majulah Singapura"36:57 – Origin of “Negaraku”, Malaysia’s national anthem40:22 – How Prof Tan juggles his roles as a composer, professor of physics and SSO board member42:51 – How he helped found the SSO48:44 – His career at NUS51:20 – Similarities between scientific research to music writingTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-making-of-majulah-singapura-as-we-know-it-bernard-tan/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-1-apr-jun-2025-sing-singapore-national-day-songs/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Prof Tan for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Tay Seow Huah, then Permanent Secretary for the Home Affairs Ministry, helmed Singapore’s response to the 1974 Laju hijacking incident. This was when four terrorists tried (but failed) to destroy Shell’s oil infrastructure on Pulau Bukom Besar and subsequently took five hostages. Little is known about the enigmatic spy chief, who was the founding Director of the Security and Intelligence Division. Simon Tay, lawyer, academic and winner of the 2010 Singapore Literature Prize, tells us how his Penang-born father – who lived through WWII, the Malayan Emergency and the political tumult of the 1960s – came to play a giant role serving a newly independent Singapore.Simon Tay is the chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, a non-profit think tank. He is an associate professor of law at the National University of Singapore and a former Nominated Member of Parliament. In 1995, Simon was named a Singapore Young Artist, and his novel City of Small Blessings won the Singapore Literature Prize in 2010. In 2021, he received the S.E.A. Write Award, a regional award given to leading ASEAN poets and writers.What Simon Talked About 00:00 – The 1974 Laju hijacking and its significance02:03 – Tay Seow Huah’s legacy and role in Singapore’s security operations07:37 – Singapore’s strategic and diplomatic response to the Laju incident10:38 – Why Lee Kuan Yew appointed Tay to lead the Special Branch11:50 – Background on the Laju hijackers and geopolitical tensions in the 1970s16:39 – Insights from S. R. Nathan’s memoir17:38 – Why Tay did not accompany hijackers to Kuwait although he volunteered17:42– Challenges of writing about classified events and uncovering the past19:05 – Tay’s childhood in Malaya and educational achievements19:56 – Speculations about Tay’s post-university activities before joining civil service22:23 – Comparison between Tay and James Bond28:02 – How Simon’s relationship with his father changed after Tay’s heart attack30:26 – Tay’s declining health and early retirement from civil service32:19 – Tay’s struggles in his retirement years33:03 – Simon’s reflections on his grandmother’s strength and complexity35:13 – How Tay’s childhood hunger shaped his habits35:57 – Tay’s party trick38:09 – Simon on his public service journey43:45 – Why Simon’s wrote the book EnigmasTranscriptRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-tay-seow-huah-first-spy-chief-of-independent-singapore-simon-tay/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Simon for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Hawkers traditionally sell their food on streets. Uniquely in Singapore though, they ply their trade in fixed stalls in hawker centres. Ryan Kueh, author of the bestselling From Streets to Stalls, tells us how the hawker culture has evolved in Singapore since the colonial period and what hawker centres have come to represent.Ryan Kueh holds a master’s degree from Tsinghua University under the Schwarzman Scholars programme and completed his bachelor’s at Yale–NUS College, where he read philosophy, politics, economics and history. His key research focus is consumption culture and history, with a secondary interest in international affairs. He is the author of From Streets to Stalls: The History and Evolution of Hawking and Hawker Centres in Singapore.What Ryan Talked About00:00 – How the term “hawker” is understood differently in Singapore, compared to in other countries04:44 – When hawking might have started in Singapore05:20– Preconditions for hawking07:11– Colonial records, and hygiene and urban discipline issues during colonial times09:06 – Why hawking was an attractive and accessible job then10:39– Challenges colonial authorities faced in controlling hawkers11:47 – Post-independence reforms in hawking14:25– Establishment of hawker centres and their purpose15:47 – How rent subsidies keep hawker food affordable17:43– Origins of the first hawker centre and differences from hawker shelters20:12– Loss of food heritage23:27– Gentrification in hawker centres25:27– Hawking as a vocation in the past and today27:44– Why Singapore’s hawker culture won the UNESCO recognition for intangible cultural heritage30:04– Contemporary political use of hawker centres31:51– What Ryan is working on and what his favourite hawker centre is36:47 – Hawking is…TranscriptRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-hawker-culture-in-singapore-ryan-kueh/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Ryan for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Many people know of the story of Badang the strongman, an aboriginal slave who gains supernatural strength after eating the vomit of a spirit. He throws a stone, which might or might not be the Singapore Stone, and his miracle-working grave is believed to be on Pulau Buru in the Riau Archipelago. However, independent scholar William Gibson tells us the tale of Badang (and the location of his grave) is much more complicated than is generally known.Dr William L. Gibson is an author and researcher based in Southeast Asia since 2005. A former Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow of the National Library Singapore, he is the author of Keramat, Sacred Relics and Forbidden Idols in Singapore (Routledge, 2024). His articles have appeared in Signal to Noise, PopMatters.com, The Mekong Review, Archipel, History and Anthropology, the Bulletin de l’École française d’Extrême-Orient and BiblioAsia, among others.What William Talked About00:00 – What a keramat is01:13 – Legend of Badang the strongman02:20 – William's past research on keramat03:07 – Badang as a national icon and his myth in the Malay Annals04:43 – British interest and early translations of Badang’s story06:26 – The rock-throwing legend and its transformation into a national tale08:26 – Origins of the Singapore Stone and colonial myth-making11:00 – The three different rocks associated with Badang13:02 – The search for the real burial site of Badang18:08 – The shrine’s transformation into a government-designated cultural site20:40 – The Karimun inscription and its link to Badang folklore22:00 – Other stones with footprints and mythical associations24:00 – Theories of Badang’s burial sites26:00 – Other folktales with vomit-eating as a power transfer motif28:00 – Broader meaning and significance of keramat and nature shrines31:05 – Existing keramat in Singapore35:10 – Stories of the keramat Habib Noh39:01 – Challenges of preserving keramat in Singapore42:00 – Fates of kermat in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia44:07 – The heritage value of keramat 47:55 – Mythology is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-badang-the-strongman-a-miracle-working-grave-a-folk-tale-and-a-nations-mythology/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-1-apr-jun-2025-origins-badang-strongman-singapore-stone/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Nookcha Films. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to William for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

When Peng Tsu Ying came to Singapore from Shanghai in the late 1940s, he could not find a deaf person like him. Determined to improve the situation for the deaf community, he founded Singapore's first school for the deaf in 1954. Librarian Nathaniel Chew tells us about Peng's advocacy, his own journey learning the Singapore Sign Language and the different ways it has evolved.Nathaniel Chew is a librarian with the National Library Singapore. He works with the Singapore and Southeast Asia Collection, and his research interests lie at the intersection of language and society.What Nathaniel Talked About02:13 – Who Peng Tsu Ying was04:07 – What Singapore was like for the deaf community before WWII05:34 – How Peng started the first school for the deaf07:42 – Peng’s foray into car racing10:12 – Joining forces with the Red Cross11:13 – What the Singapore Sign Language is19:00 – How Nathaniel got interested in sign language19:40 – Peng’s influence on Singapore’s deaf community22:17 – Nathaniel’s research interest in linguistics23:56 – Nathaniel’s take on Singlish25:28 – BiblioAsia is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-peng-tsu-ying-singapore-pioneering-deaf-educator-nathaniel-chew/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-21-issue-1-apr-jun-2025-deaf-education-singapore-sign-language/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Nathaniel for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

In 1952, four Singapore artists – Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng and Liu Kang – travelled to Java and Bali in search of artistic inspiration. The following year, they put up an exhibition showcasing art they had produced from the trip, an exhibition often hailed by art historians as a milestone in Singapore art history. Yet much of the trip has been shrouded in mystery, until Gretchen Liu, the daughter-in-law of Liu Kang, discovered Liu Kang's archives and photographs from the trip. She tells us how the trip came together, what the artists did in Java and Bali, and what the trip meant to them as artists.Gretchen Liu is a former journalist, a writer and an independent scholar with an interest in visual culture and heritage. She is the editor and author of several books. Most recently, she has been researching the early life of her father-in-law Liu Kang, a journey that has taken her deep into early 20th-century Chinese art history. Her latest book is Bali 1952: Through the Lens of Liu Kang.What Gretchen Talked About02:14 – The importance of the 1953 exhibition in art history05:20 – The story of the shoebox08:17 – What makes the newly discovered photographs special11:00 – The significance of the artists’ journey to Bali and Java14:11 – How their journey began with the kindness of strangers16:07 – The life and times of the four pioneering artists21:11 – Gretchen’s journey following in the footsteps of the artists23:15 – Her intention in showcasing the photographs alongside the art they inspired26:14 – The hardest part about researching the book27:29 – How Gretchen became interested in Singapore’s visual history30:02 – The book she is most proud of32:21 – Her experience as the in-house historian for the Raffles Hotel35:19 – What is next for Gretchen35:56 – Family history is…Transcript Read the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-misunderstood-trip-that-led-to-the-1953-landmark-art-exhibition-gretchen-liu/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Gretchen for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Zubir Said (1907–87) gave Singapore its national anthem, “Majulah Singapura”, and its official Children’s Day song, “Semoga Bahagia”. Working with theatre company Wild Rice, music director Julian Wong put together a critically acclaimed production on the life of Pak Zubir that mixed history, music and memory in a moving show, Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita. Performances were sold out in 2022 and 2024. In this episode, Julian tells us the challenges of putting up the show, including the research and transcription, and reveals if he’s a Swiftie.Julian Wong is a composer, arranger, music director, educator and performer. He has composed for Wild Rice, including An Inspector Calls, Pinocchio, Tartuffe: The Imposter, etc. As music director, he has helmed overseas assignments such as Liao Zhai Rocks! (Shanghai) and Spotlight Singapore (Mexico City), as well as home-grown projects such as Hossan Leong’s Hossan-AH! 50, Pam Oei’s Faghag and The Theatre Practice’s If There’re Seasons. Additionally, Julian has conducted and arranged for Joyful Strings, Ministry of Bellz, Orchestra of the Music Makers, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, and many more. Julian graduated from Berklee College of Music, where he received the Professional Music Excellence Award and Alex Ulanowski Award. In 2023, he received the Young Artist Award, Singapore’s highest award for young arts practitioners.What Julian Talked About03:07 – How the show Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita came about05:17 – Julian’s research into the life of Pak Zubir Said08:04 – Performing the show during Covid10:13 – How Julian arranged his version of “Semoga Bahagia”12:35 – Difficulties of researching Pak Zubir’s life13:40 – The most interesting discovery about Pak Zubir15:49 – A touching story about Pak Zubir17:50 – Continuing the legacy of teacher-student collaborations18:59 – How “Majulah Singapura” was conceived22:44 – What Julian learnt about Pak Zubir from his teacher Iskandar Ismail24:42 – Julian’s relationship with his teacher26:37 – Mentoring students budding musicians at ITE27:57 – On winning the Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council29:43 – Favourite song from Don't Call Him Mr. Mari Kita31:36 – What he’s working on32:54 – Julian’s favourite musician34:06 – Is he a Swiftie?Transcript Read the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-life-and-legacy-zubir-said-julian-wong/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. This version of “Semoga Bahagia” was composed by Zubir Said, produced by Julian Wong and performed by Wild Rice. Special thanks to Julian for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Sharing the literary landscape with contemporaries like D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf, W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) travelled to Singapore in 1921. Though he was already well-known as a writer then, it was his stay in Singapore that inspired some of his most celebrated short stories. Crime fiction writer Tracey Morton tells us how Singapore inspired his works, why they remain relevant, and whether the Menendez brothers deserve their sentence.Tracey A. Morton is a Singapore-based Irish/Australian writer and a Cambridge graduate. She is co-host of the podcast, The Asian Bookshelf, and author of the upcoming novel, The Coffee Shop Masquerade. In 2020, she was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize for her short work, “Faded Ink”, and the Virginia Prize for Fiction for The Queen, The Soldier and The Girl. Her novel, Someone Is Coming, based on plantation murders in Malaya in the 1900s, was published by Monsoon Books in 2022 and has been optioned for television.What Tracey Talked About02:29 – Who Somerset Maugham was04:11 – Why Maugham came to Singapore?06:46 – Which Maugham’s stories had the most impact07:38 – Maugham’s writing style10:03 – How Maugham’s work would be received today10:45 – The influence Asia had on Maugham and his stories13:26 – How Tracey became interested in Maugham’s life and works16:28 – What inspired her to write stories about Maugham18:07 – Tracey’s journey into crime fiction writing and historical research22:18 – How the idea for Someone Is Coming came about26:23 – Tracey’s new book The Coffee Shop Masquerade28:45 – What the Singapore literary scene lacks35:07 – Crime writing is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-somerset-maugham-scandalises-1920s-singapore-tracey-morton/Check out the BiblioAsia article "W. Somerset Maugham: Secrets from the Outstations": https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-20-issue-4-jan-mar-2025-william-somerset-maugham-secrets/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tracey for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Singaporeans love animals, but only selectively. Otters, Ah Meng the orangutan, and Inuka the polar bear are among the beloved. Less favoured are monkeys in the Botanic Gardens, many of which were culled before WWII, and pesky Aedes mosquitoes. Environmental historian Timothy Barnard tells us how some of these migrant animals came to be here, how they’ve been treated, and what makes them Singaporean.Timothy P. Barnard is an associate professor in the Department of History at the National University of Singapore, where he specialises in the environmental and cultural history of island Southeast Asia. He is the author of Imperial Creatures and Nature's Colony, and the editor of Nature Contained and Singaporean Creatures.What Timothy Talked About02:26 – Monkeys in the Botanic Gardens before WWII07:15 – Understanding Singapore’s history through its animals08:41 – What makes a creature Singaporean?10:10 – How the Garden City concept shaped human-animal relationships in Singapore12:34 – Why some recognisable Singaporean animals were left out of the book14:31 – Otters as returning migrants16:33 – Singaporeans’ fondness for the zoo and its creatures20:31 – How Tim came to be interested in environmental history23:37 – Challenges in teaching environmental history26:01 – The animal he would like to interview27:13 – The profession he would pick if he weren't a historianTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-what-makes-an-animal-singaporean-timothy-barnard/Check out the book: Singaporean Creatures: Histories of Humans and Other Animals in the Garden City.Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tim for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

To write a book about 60 Asian port cities, ex–ACM director Kennie Ting travelled as far as the Middle East and Africa. He tells us how port cities can tell a different history of Asia, and what his "eat, pray, love" cities and his favourite ACM artefacts are.A writer and museum professional fascinated by the history, heritage and culture of Asian port cities, Kennie Ting is the former director of the Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum in Singapore. He has written The Romance of the Grand Tour: 100 Years of Travel in South East Asia (2015) and Singapore 1819: A Living Legacy (2019). His recent book, The Great Port Cities of Asia in History (2024), re-examines Asian history from the perspective of 60 port cities across the region.What Kennie Talked About02:00 – How Kennie found time to write his book The Great Port Cities of Asia in History while heading two museums04:17 – Kennie’s travel experiences05:37 – How his fascination with port cities began06:57 – His writing approach and themes of the book10:09 – How he categorised port cities into six eras in his book13:18 – The hardest thing about writing this book14:36 – His favourite artefacts in the Asian Civilisations Museum (ACM)16:00 – Wuhan’s significance as a historic port city18:23 – Kennie’s research process18:59 – His “eat, pray, love” port cities22:19 – The port cities Kennie would pick to live in26:32 – What he misses about ACM27:14 – What’s next for Kennie TingTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-asian-port-cities-with-ex-acm-director-kennie-ting/Check out Kennie's book: The Great Port Cities of Asia in History Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Kennie for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

A journalist turned politician turned diplomat, S. Rajaratnam (1915–2006) wore many hats in the service of Singapore. His contribution to Singapore is so great that to cover his life adequately required 20 years of research and over 1,200 pages of writing. Irene Ng, his authorised biographer, tells us little-known facets of the man, his legacy as Singapore’s founding foreign and culture minister, and his relationship with Lee Kuan Yew.Irene Ng is the authorised biographer of S. Rajaratnam and writer-in-residence at the Institute of ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. She was formerly an award-winning senior political correspondent and a Member of Parliament in Singapore.What Irene Talked About02:29 – Irene’s first meeting with S. Rajaratnam and her impressions of him04:17 – How a journalistic background helped Irene connect with him06:10 – Rajaratnam's personality07:55 – Main themes of the second volume of Rajaratnam biography, The Lion’s Roar10:24 – Why young Singaporeans should read the biography14:49 – How Singapore’s pledge came from Rajaratnam’s ideals19:07 – Rajaratnam's relationship with Lee Kuan Yew24:41 – Rajaratnam’s legacy in shaping Singapore’s foreign policy26:11 – Qualities that made Rajaratnam the ideal founding foreign minister28:04 – Rajaratnam’s impact as the culture minister30:51 – His forgotten achievements as the labour minister35:10 – What inspired Irene to write Rajaratnam’s biography37:30 – Challenges in writing the second volume of the biography39:40 – Irene’s take on criticisms about the book based on her history as a politician44:58 – What Irene reads for leisure46:06 – Biographies that inspired Irene49:00 – What’s next for Irene49:38 – Irene’s Singapore dreamTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-s-rajaratnam-singapores-first-foreign-minister/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-20-issue-3-oct-dec-2024-rajaratnam-biography-lions-roar/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Irene for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Stella Kon is known for creating the beloved Emily of Emerald Hill – possibly the most frequently staged play in Singapore. She is also a novelist and musical theatre writer, and she has adapted her landmark play into a musical after falling in love with the genre. In this episode, Stella talks about the difference between writing plays and musicals, her favourite actor who played Emily, and her writing process.What Stella Talked About02:15 – How Stella felt watching the first version of the play Emily of Emerald Hill come to life04:13 – Why the character of Emily resonated with many and inspired countless adaptations05:25 – Her favourite portrayal of Emily06:10 – How the play evolved from draft to final product07:07 – About creating Emily the Musical08:26 – How Stella wrote “Love Was All I Wanted” for Emily the Musical09:19 – What draws Stella to the musical genre11:21 – Her musical Lim Boon Keng, which is based on the life of her great-grandfather13:03 – Her new novel, 4 Pax to Emptiness14:37 – Common themes in her work16:33 – Her writing process, practices and rituals18:45 – Her writing influences20:10 – What’s next for Stella Kon20:49 – Her advice to writers22:17 – Writing is…22:39 – Stella’s proudest momentsTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-stella-kon-beyond-emily-of-emerald-hill/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-20-issue-2-jul-sep-2024-emily-of-emerald-hill-stella-kon/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Doppler Soundlab. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Stella for coming on the show. The song "Love Was All I Wanted" was written by Stella Kon and Desmond Moey.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva grew up by the sea and spent many happy hours foraging for horseshoe crabs, shellfish and sea snails that would end up in the cooking pot. In this episode, he talks about how his childhood and grandfather influenced his cooking philosophy, when he found his calling in the kitchen (later than you'd expect), and what's left for him after winning the prestigious culinary award La Liste.Chef Damian D’Silva is a judge on MasterChef Singapore and the first Singaporean to be awarded the prestigious culinary prize Artisan & Authenticity Award 2024 from La Liste, a French ranking and restaurants guide. An advocate for local culinary heritage, he helms Rempapa, a multicultural restaurant serving dishes from the ethnicities in Singapore.What Damian Talked About02:15 – Why Damian chose to cook sea snail and papaya curry on From Book to Cook04:26 – Foraging in the sea and on land07:46 – His fascination with Western culture and food as a teenager08:28 – The Malay and Peranakan version of the sea snail and papaya curry dish08:50 – His experience of growing up in a community with different ethnicities10:09 – Foraging for horseshoe crabs and cooking them12:32 – About his grandfather, who had the greatest influence on Damian’s cooking journey14:20 – The difference between a cook and a chief18:01 – When Damian found out that cooking is his calling20:26 – Why heritage cuisine is important22:45 – How Eurasian cuisine is unique25:23 – What’s next for Damian D’Silva after winning the Artisan & Authenticity Award 2024 from La Liste27:53 – Why he has not written a cookbook29:18 – The hardest thing about being a chef32:28 – The one thing Damian would rather buy than make on his own34:06 – Food is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-sea-foraging-eurasian-cuisine/Watch Damian make sea snail and papaya curry: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/videos-sea-snail-papaya-curry/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79bThis episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Damian for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Growing up as a Chetti Melaka (Peranakan Indian), Tanya realised her family was different when she was seven or eight years old. Her family spoke Malay at home, ate sambal belacan, and had huge parties with a lot of unusual food. In this episode, Tanya talks with pride about the rituals of the ancestor worship known parachu and the cookbook containing traditional recipes of the Chetti Melaka community.A Peranakan Indian, Tanya Pillay-Nair is the coordinator of the cookbook Heritage Food of the Peranakan Indians in a Chitty Melaka Kitchen (Peranakan Indian Association of Singapore, 2023). The book contains close to 100 Peranakan Indian recipes, from everyday dishes to festive fare.What Tanya Talked About01:58 – Who the Chetti Melaka are, and where they are from04:32 – How the Chetti Melaka are different from and similar to other communities05:19 – The importance of food culture especially in ancestor worship known as parachu10:04 – The language spoken by Chetti Melaka10:37 – The musicality of the community and a version of the song Di Tanjong Katong commissioned by the Chetti Melaka (Peranakan Indians) Association (used with permission)12:10 – The local community in Singapore and origins of the Chetti Melaka Association15:00 – How the book Heritage Food of the Peranakan Indians came about19:59 – Tanya’s background as a Chetti Melaka23:11 – Classic Chetti Melaka dishes24:44 – How the Chetti Melaka otak blangah is different from the usual otak-otak 26:29 – Reception of the book29:06 – A must-try and simple dish in the cookbook29:30 – The importance of preserving heritage food30:11 – Food is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-food-peranakan-indians/Watch Tanya make otak blangah: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/videos-otak-blangah/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79bThis episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tanya for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Set up by five Buddhist women in 1946, Loke Woh Yuen was the first Chinese vegetarian restaurant in Singapore. It employed an all-female staff, was known for its popular shark’s fin made from maize, and was sometimes so packed that it had to set up dining tents that stretched to the main road. Its efforts to spread vegetarianism were complemented by other Buddhist women and nuns who wrote cookbooks and fundraised for charity.Kelvin Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from the National University of Singapore. He was a research assistant for the project “Mapping Female Religious Heritage in Singapore: Chinese Temples as Sites of Regional Socio-cultural Linkage” funded by the National Heritage Board.What Kelvin Talked About01:48 – The founders of Chinese vegetarian restaurants in 1940s–50s05:28 – The most popular dishes at the vegetarian restaurant Loke Woh Yuen06:26 – How Fut Sai Kai Vegetarian Restaurant differs from Loke Woh Yuen07:26 – Ko Tian-gu, the founder of Fut Sai Kai08:37 – Cookbooks that helped to spread vegetarianism10:57 – The famous vegetarian soon kueh recipe by Abbess Yang Qincai of the temple Hai Inn See12:24 – Legacy of early Chinese vegetarian restaurants in philanthropy and Buddhist education13:55 – Resources Kelvin used in his research.16:40 – Why early Chinese vegetarian restaurants have Cantonese heritage18:58 – The vegetarian dish that Kelvin wants to master nextTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-chinese-vegetarian-foodscape/Watch Kelvin make soon kueh: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/videos-soon-kueh/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79bThis episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Kelvin for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

A tireless steward of Malay culture, Hajah Asfiah worked all her life to preserve and pass on Malay crafts. When she was just 10, she began teaching embroidery and flower arrangement in school. Later in life, she was a mak andam (wedding attendant) for more than 20 years and worked with more than 1,000 brides. At age 65, she got her cookbook Hidangan Warisan Kita (Our Heritage Dishes; 1986) published by Times Books International; it was the publisher’s first cookbook, written in Malay by a Malay person. The book had recipes for dishes that have since become extinct. Sadly, she died a year later, but thanks to the book she wrote and the many courses she taught, her memory lives on.Toffa Abdul Wahed is an associate librarian with the National Library, Singapore, and works with the Singapore and Southeast Asia Collection. She has written about cookbook author Siti Radhiah and belacan in BiblioAsia.What Toffa Talked About00:26 – About bunga kobis (flower of the cabbage), the dish Toffa made in Season Two of From Book to Cook03:57 – Why bunga kobis is a special dish04:30 – The complicated process of making the six-layer dish05:39 – Why Toffa chose to make this dish for the video06:39 – Toffa's special family connection to the dish07:36 – How Toffa practised making the dish for the video09:43 – When bunga kobis was a trendy dish at Malay weddings10:16 – The secret to making bunga kobis12:00 – Garnish and presentation for the dish13:42 – Why Cikgu Asfiah is considered a guardian for Malay arts15:35 – Cikgu Asfiah's background18:07 – Why Cikgu Asfiah was invited to teach at age 1018:40 – The significance of her first cookbook Hidangan Warisan Kita20:01 – Why she decided to write a cookbook23:00 – Why her cookbook had limited reach24:08 – Her work as a mak andam (wedding attendant)26:15 – How her children helped her28:43 – What a mak andam does33:21 – The resources Toffa used to research on Cikgu Asfiah35:42 – Why food history is important37:35 – Food is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-hajah-asfiah-guardian-traditional-malay-culture/Watch Toffa make bunga kobis: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/videos-bunga-kobis/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79bThis episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Toffa for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

You hear Malay, Javanese, Tamil and Punjabi as you wander the streets with shops selling colourful textiles and carpets, spices and flowers. Here you find different curries and bread, nasi padang, sup tulang, mee siam, a Javanese kitchen, Hainanese coffeeshops. Bookstores sell literature and newspapers as far away as Cairo. In this episode, Khir tells us about the Kampong Gelam he grew up in.Khir Johari was born and raised in historic Kampong Gelam, Singapore. He studied mathematics at Santa Clara University in California, and completed a masters in education at Stanford University. Since returning to Singapore, Khir has focused on research into the food cultures of maritime Southeast Asia. He is the author of The Food of Singapore Malays: Gastronomic Travels through the Archipelago (Marshall Cavendish Editions, 2021).What Khir Talked About02:32 – The origins of mee maidin, the dish that Khir cooked in From Book to Cook07:18 – Kampong Gelam as the incubator for the Nusantara (Malay World) kitchen09:19 – Four main streets in Kampong Gelam selling food, including the only place in Singapore that sells mee odong14:35 – The origins of mee siam17:46 – Three types of mee siam that came out of Kampong Gelam18:36 – Khir’s childhood in Kampong Gelam, where the Tamil Muslim community organized an annual commemoration of a Sufi saint20:23 – Publishing houses in Kampong Gelam22:51 – Why Khir spent 10 years writing the book The Food of Singapore Malays27:12 – What Khir is working on now28:38 – Khir’s dream job if he lived in Kampong Gelam in the 19th century29:37 – The most maligned ingredient in Malay cooking31:15 – The one recipe in his book Khir wants people to try33:07 – Food is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-kampong-glam-kitchen-malay-world/Watch Khir make mee maidin: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/videos-mee-maidin/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore: https://form.gov.sg/616799db4d9b61001398f79bThis episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Khir for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

Kueh pie tee is not a pie that goes with tea. So where did the name (and dish) come from? Award-winning cookbook author Christopher Tan combs through old newspapers and cookbooks, in search of the origins of the dish.PS: Dates back to 1570!Christopher Tan is an award-winning writer, cooking instructor and photographer. His articles, columns, recipes and photographs have appeared in many publications, including Singapore's Sunday Times and Straits Times, The Peak magazine, and America's Saveur magazine. He has authored and co-authored many cookbooks, most recently Nerdbaker 2: Tales from the Yeast Indies (Epigram Books, 2024). He loves making meaning with words, images and food.What Christopher Talked About02:11 – The origins of the dish kueh pie tee11:43 – Why make kueh pie tee shells when they can be bought13:29 – Christopher's tips for deep-frying13:54 – What's special about Susie Hing's 1956 cookbook In a Malayan Kitchen 16:39 – How Christopher connected with Hing's family18:03 – Hing's background18:55 – Different influences in Hing's recipes21:36 – Why Christopher shares old recipes and cookbooks on his Instagram account23:48 – The value of local vintage cookbooks25:20 – Christopher's latest cookbook, Nerdbaker 2: Tales from the Yeast Indies29:07 – Why toddy (fermented palm sap) is used in baking35:50 – Christopher's dream filling for kueh pie tee36:57 – The dish Christopher wishes he can master38:21 – How Christopher tests his recipes38:58 – What Christopher would rather buy than make on his own40:23 – Food is...Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-kueh-pie-tee/Watch Christopher make kueh pie tee: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/videos-kueh-pie-tee/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Christopher for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

Tan Teng Kee was the Mike Tyson of Singapore boxing in the 1920s. Known as Battling Key, the larger-than-life boxer attracted crowds wherever he went. Which makes his drastic downfall all the more tragic.Abhishek Mehrotra is a researcher and writer whose interests include media and society in colonial Singapore, urban toponymy and post-independence India. He is working on his first book (HarperCollins, 2025) – a biography of T.N. Seshan, one of India’s most prominent bureaucrats. Abhishek is a former Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow (2021–22).What Abhishek Talked About02:04 – How boxing came to Singapore04:44 – Why boxing has wide appeal among the masses06:43 – Who attended boxing matches in 1920s Singapore08:13 – Background and rise of Tan Teng Kee or Battling Key10:43 – Battling Key's matches with Yeo Choon Song16:07 – Song's complaint about Battling Key's gloves17:14 – What happened to Song after beating Key20:56 – Key's downfall22:31 – Boxing ecosystem and corruption28:34 – Why professional boxing was more successful than professional tennis31:27 – Abhishek's choice between being a boxer and tennis player31:50 – Abhishek's nickname if he were in combat sport32:09 – Fatherhood is...32:06 – Sports is...Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-singapores-first-boxing-superstar-tan-tang-kee/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Abhishek for coming on the show.Produced by the National Library Singapore, the BiblioAsia Podcast tells stories about Singapore history.

Nicknamed “Twinkle Toes” for his agility, Chia Boon Leong (1925–2022) is widely regarded as one of Singapore‘s most talented football players. Academic and sports historian Nick Aplin talks about the footballer’s sporting achievements, his character and their friendship.Dr Nick Aplin is Deputy Director (Sport Heritage) at Sport Singapore. He is the author of the Sport in Singapore series: The Colonial Legacy (2019), The Rocky Road to Kallang Park (2023) and Visions for Change (2023).What Nick Talked About02:04 – How Boon Leong got his nickname, Twinkle Toes06:32 – How Boon Leong ended up in the Olympics playing for China08:23 – Nick's meeting with Boon Leong, and their friendship12:28 – Nick's research process and his start in writing about local athletes15:58 – How Nick's first meeting with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam went19:01 – Nick's book launch with the president as the guest of honour22:31 – How chess and sport are similar25:53 – What sport and history are to NickTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-chia-boon-leong-homegrown-football-olympian/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-19-issue-4-jan-mar-2024-chia-boon-leong-football-soccer/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Nick for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

In the 1960s and ‘70s, lured by adventure and money, Singaporean musicians went to South Vietnam to perform for American troops during the war. They were met with cheers, bullets and assault. Boon Lai is an author, an illustrator and a filmmaker based in Singapore. Inspired by the true accounts of the rockers who toured the Vietnam War, he created the three-book graphic novel series, The Once & Marvellous DKD. What Boon Lai Talked About02:01 – How Boon Lai came to know of local musicians who went to Vietnam during the 1960s and ’70s05:33 – When these musicians went to Vietnam08:47 – Why these musicians decided to perform in the war zone11:30 – How these musicians were recruited15:56 – How much they were paid16:44 – Nightly curfews18:35 – Daily schedules of musicians20:50 – Close call with bullets21:53 – Musician Veronica Young’s experience in Vietnam as a woman24:53 – How long Impian Bateks and other musicians played in Saigon27:12 – Boon Lai’s three-year research process28:58 –Boon Lai’s DKD sequel29:44 – Hardest thing about creating a historical graphic novelTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-singapore-bands-wartime-vietnam/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-20-issue-1-apr-jun-2024-singapore-bands-vietnam-war/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Boon Lai for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Thanks to restoration, classic films like The Teenage Textbook Movie (1998) can still be shown on a big screen 20 years after its cinema run. On a mission to preserve Singapore’s film heritage, film archivist Chew Tee Pao saves important movies and gives them a second life.Chew Tee Pao is an archivist with the Asian Film Archive. Since 2014, he has overseen the restoration of more than 30 films from the archive’s collection. He has written about film restoration in BiblioAsia.What Tee Pao Talked About2:23 – Challenges of restoring The Teenage Textbook Movie (1998)8:06 – How AFA restored They Call Her… Cleopatra Wong (1978) without the original negatives13:26 – The sad fate of P. Ramlee’s Seniman Bujang Lapok (1961)16:20 – The restoration process for Sri Lankan film Bambaru Avith, which was selected for Cannes Film Festival in 202020:47 – Tee Pao’s experience at Venice Film Festival22: 48 – The film that got away in terms of restoration23:40 – A common misconception about film restoration24:23 – Film restoration does not equate to preservation26:41 – The importance of saving film heritageTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-saving-singapores-film-heritage/Read the BiblioAsia article on restoring Singapore films and Asian films: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-saving-singapores-film-heritage/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tee Pao for coming on the show.BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library Singapore.

In the mid-19th century, two ancient gold coins were uncovered near present-day Keppel Harbour. Unfortunately, the Acehnese coins vanished before they could be studied carefully. The Jawi inscriptions on the coins were recorded, though they didn’t make sense. More than 180 years later, Foo Shu Tieng tries to solve the case.Foo Shu Tieng is Associate Librarian with the National Library, Singapore, and works with the Singapore and Southeast Asia collections. She has written about stone age in Singapore and Ancient Gold in Southeast Asia in BiblioAsia.What Shu Talked About02:11 – When and where the coins were found04:35 – Whether the coins were stolen05:48 – How common artefact theft is06:30 – What coins can tell us about Singapore’s history08:53 – Why and how Shu reexamined the Jawi transcription on the coins10:43 – Response to Shu’s research on the coins11:57 – Other ancient coins found in Singapore12:49 – A common misconception of archaeology13:21 — An archaeological mystery that Shu would like to solve15:26 – Shu’s favourite archaeological pop-culture moment16:00 – Archaeology is…Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-lost-gold-coins/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-19-issue-3-oct-dec-2023-acehnese-chinese-gold-coins/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Shu for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

A young German girl met an untimely end on Pulau Ubin in 1914. A shrine set up in her honour becomes Internet-famous. Following a deep search into the historical records, writer and researcher William Gibson discovers some inconvenient truths behind one of Singapore’s best-known shrines.Dr William L. Gibson is a former Lee Kong Chian research fellow. Based in Southeast Asia since 2005, he is the author of Keramat, Sacred Relics and Forbidden Idols in Singapore (Routledge, September 2024) and Alfred Raquez and the French Experience of the Far East, 1898–1906 (Routledge, 2021). His articles have appeared in Signal to Noise, PopMatters.com, The Mekong Review, Archipel, History and Anthropology, Bulletin de l’École française d’Extrême-Orient and BiblioAsia, among others.What William Talked About02:23 – Whom the shrine is dedicated to04:07 – How William knew of the shrine and began research on it06:44 – Different versions of the story behind the shrine11:07 – Termite mounds as sites of worship16:13 – How the German girl shrine became well-known17:36 – Films inspired by the shrine21:45 – How the shrine changed after the 2015 renovation 24:51 – What William prays for at the shrine25:35 – What William is working on now28:27 – Most unexpected offering William has seen at shrines29:56 – The shrine William would make a film on, if he can30:49 – Historical memory and the importance of vernacular traditionsTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-german-girl-shrine/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-german-girl-shrine/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to William for coming on the show.BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library Singapore.

Yip Yew Chong’s 60-metre-long work, “I Paint my Singapore”, drew huge crowds when it went on display at the Raffles City Convention Centre. Comprising 27 scenes of 1970s–1980s Singapore, the painting merges history, memory and nostalgia. In this episode of BiblioAsia+, Yew Chong explains how he created this work and reveals what he would love to paint but has not.Yip Yew Chong was an accountant till he became a full-time artist in 2018. His practice includes different visual mediums: murals, canvas, sketches, installations, videography and photography. His public murals may be seen in the streets of Singapore and other regional cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Phnom Penh, while his canvases have been shown in art galleries.What Yew Chong Talked About01:53 – What “I Paint my Singapore” is about04:14 – What inspired Yew Chong to paint this 60-metre canvas08:31 – Yew Chong’s favourite scene in the painting, and his childhood in Kreta Ayer14:32 – His research process for the painting21:18 – Balancing historical research with creative licence23:56 – What he finds hard to paint24:49 – Painting alone in studio versus in public, and indoors versus outdoors26:54 – Recent books about Yew Chong and his art: The Art of Joy and I Paint my Singapore31:12 – What he is working on now34:11 – What he wants to paint but hasn’t34:58 – How he overcomes artist’s block35:24 – What he thinks about BanksyTranscript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-yip-yew-chong/Read the BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-20-issue-1-apr-jun-2024-yip-yew-chong-i-paint-my-singapore/Subscribe to BiblioAsia for more stories about Singapore.This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by One Dash. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Yew Chong for coming on the show.BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library Singapore.

The Great Reclamation is a work of historical fiction set in Singapore that has received rave reviews from the New Yorker and the New York Times. A love story, it also took five years of serious research into a variety of topics, including land reclamation, the Japanese Occupation and postwar politics in Singapore. Listen to author Rachel Heng talk about her book and her fascinating research process.Rachel Heng is the author of the novels The Great Reclamation and Suicide Club, which was a national bestseller in Singapore and has been translated into 10 languages.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-the-great-reclamationRead the BiblioAsia article on land reclamation that Rachel referred to in her research at https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-13-issue-1-apr-jun-2017-land-from-sand/.This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Soh Gek Han and produced by Jimmy Yap. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Rachel for coming on the show.BiblioAsia+ is a podcast about Singapore history by the National Library Singapore.

Writer and educator Ilya Katrinnada interviewed the Orang Seletar who resettled in Johor to learn about their lives, and their links to Singapore.Ilya Katrinnada is an educator and writer with a keen interest in the intersections of creativity, community and education. Having graduated with a major in anthropology, she currently works as a special education teacher.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-orang-seletar/Read the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-1-apr-to-jun-2022-orang-seletar-changing-tides/This episode of BiblioAsia+ was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music “Di Tanjong Katong” was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Ilya for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

The Kranji War Cemetery and the Singapore Memorial commemorate those who died while fighting the Japanese during World War II. Librarian Janice Loo looks at the lives of the people who paid the ultimate price in the defence of Singapore.Janice Loo is a librarian with the National Library, Singapore. Her responsibilities include collection management and content development as well as research and reference assistance on topics relating to Singapore and Southeast Asia.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-kranji-war-cemetery/Read the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-2-jul-sep-2022-kranji-war-cemetery/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Janice for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Singapore used to be a major recording centre in Southeast Asia, with over 10,000 local recordings made before 1960. Hear the story from sound archivist Ross Laird, author of From Keroncong to Xinyao.Ross was formerly a sound archivist with the National Film & Sound Archive of Australia. He was awarded NLB’s Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship in 2010.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-recording-industry/ Read the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-19-issue-2-jul-sep-2023-singapore-record-industry-1960s/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Ross for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Writer and researcher William L. Gibson undertakes a pilgrimage into the archives to uncover the history of the keramat on Kusu Island, south of the main island of Singapore.Dr William L. Gibson is an author and a researcher based in Southeast Asia since 2005. His research topic for the Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship, awarded by the National Library Board in 2021, was an in-depth study of keramat in Singapore.Transcript and ResourcesRead the episode transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-keramat-kusu/ Read the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-4-jan-mar-2023-shrines-keramat-kusu/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to William for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Librarian Lim Tin Seng rediscovers Singapore’s first island resort getaway and solves various mysteries surrounding it, including where Sarong Island is now.Lim Tin Seng is a senior librarian with the National Library, Singapore. He is the co-editor of Roots: Tracing Family Histories (2013), Harmony and Development: ASEAN-China Relations (2009) and China’s New Soci al Policy (2010). He writes regularly for BiblioAsia.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-sarong-island/ Read the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-3-oct-dec-2022-history-sarong-island-sentosa-singapore/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Tin Seng for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

There's more to firewalking than the public display of religious devotion. Independent curator Nalina Gopal tells us the stories behind the three-month rituals that precede the firewalking at Singapore's Sri Mariamman Temple.Nalina Gopal is an independent curator and researcher focused on South Asia and its diaspora. She is the co-editor of Sojourners to Settlers: Tamils in Southeast Asia and Singapore and the founder of Antāti, a historical research and museum consultancy.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-firewalking/ Read the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-3-oct-dec-2022-theemithi-firewalking-festival/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Nalina for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Stone tools have been found in and around Singapore since the late 19th century, but much about them remains a mystery, according to librarian and archaeologist Foo Shu Tieng.Foo Shu Tieng is an associate librarian with the National Library, Singapore, and works with the Singapore and Southeast Asia collections. Her responsibilities include collection management, content development as well as providing reference and research services. Her publications on ancient money, shell middens and salt can be found on ResearchGate.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-stone-tools/Read the the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-4-jan-mar-2023-stone-tools-singapore/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Shu for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Writer Abhishek Mehrotra serves up a history of Malaya’s prewar tennis scene, focusing on two tennis greats: Khoo Hooi Hye and Lim Bong Soo, who won 9 Malaya Cups and 12 Singapore Championships between them.Abhishek is a researcher and writer whose interests include media and society in colonial Singapore, urban toponymy and post-independence India. He is working on his first book – a biography of T.N. Seshan, one of India’s most prominent bureaucrats. The book, commissioned by HarperCollins, is slated for release in 2024. Abhishek is a former Lee Kong Chian Research Fellow (2021–2022).Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-tennis/the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-19-issue-1-apr-jun-2023-tennis-history-singapore/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Abhishek for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

A food that has been called rank and disgusting is a beloved condiment in Southeast Asia. Librarian Toffa Abdul Wahed talks about the long history of belacan (fermented shrimp) in Southeast Asia and Singapore.Toffa is an associate librarian with the National Library, Singapore, and works with the Singapore and Southeast Asia Collection.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-belacan/Read the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-19-issue-1-apr-jun-2023-shrimp-paste-belacan/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Toffa for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Three large murals used to grace the walls of Paya Lebar Airport, depicting scenes from Singapore and Malaysia. Librarian Dahlia Shamsuddin, the daughter of one of the artists involved, recounts her efforts to uncover the fate of her father’s mural.Dahlia is a senior librarian at the Singapore's National Library Board, where she catalogues legal deposit, gift and donor materials.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-muralsRead the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-17-issue-2-jul-sep-2021-murals-paya-lebar-airportThis episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Dahlia for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

Maiden Lin, Maiden Lei and Maiden Huang are local goddesses whose legends begin in Singapore. Award-winning writer Ng Yi-Sheng dives into their origins and looks at their worship today. Yi-Sheng is a poet, fictionist, playwright and researcher. His books include the debut poetry collection last boy, A Book of Hims and Loud Poems for a Very Obliging Audience, and the short story collection Lion City, which won the Singapore Literature Prize in 2020. He tweets and Instagrams at @yishkabob.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-taoist-folk-goddesses-singapore/the original BiblioAsia article: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-4-jan-mar-2023-taoist-folk-goddesses-singapore/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Yi-Sheng for coming on the show.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.

During World War II, forced civilian labourers known as rōmusha were used by the Imperial Japanese Army to build the infamous Thai-Burma Railway. Shirlene Noordin pieces together what happened to her grandfather in the three years he worked on the Death Railway.Shirlene is the founder of Phish Communications, a communications consultancy specialising in arts and culture.Transcript and ResourcesRead the transcript: https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/podcast-grandfather-romusha-thai-burma-railwayRead the original BiblioAsia article:" https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-18-issue-3-oct-dec-2022-grandfather-romusha-thai-burma-railway/This episode of BiblioAsia Podcast was hosted by Jimmy Yap and produced by Soh Gek Han. Sound engineering was done by Gibson Analytics. The background music "Di Tanjong Katong" was composed by Ahmad Patek and performed by Chords Haven. Special thanks to Shirlene Noordin and her family for sharing their story.The BiblioAsia Podcast by the National Library Singapore tells stories about Singapore history.