Mah Sia Lew (馬榭榴氏) – Mother of Siong Oen Hui (常允惠) & Siong Oen Min (常允敏)
Madam Mah Sia Lew was the matriarch of a prominent Fujian-origin family whose sons became successful merchants and community leaders in Singapore and the Dutch East Indies (Riau/Karimun area). Her elder son Siong Oen Min built a fortune through honest trade and supported education/disaster relief quietly, while younger son Siong Oen Hui rose to become Luitenant der Chinezen in Tanjung Balai Karimun (1924–1929) and founded major businesses. She passed away on 14 April 1924 at age 63 and was interred in Bukit Brown Cemetery Block 1 E Plot 64, where family members also established burial ties.
Genealogy & Burial Location
Family Details:
Husband: 常連三 (Chang Lian San / Old Mr. Lian San), Confucian scholar with Qing honors.
Children (known sons): Siong Oen Min (常允敏, alias 巾文每), Siong Oen Hui (常允惠 / Siong Oen Hoei – youngest of five brothers).
Grandchildren (selected): From Siong Oen Hui: 嘉精 (Jia Jing), 嘉登 (Jia Deng); From Siong Oen Min: 堪逐君 (Kan Chek Kun / Kam Teck Kun), among many sons; two daughters.
The Chang (常) family originated from Shima (石碼), Longxi County, Fujian. The five brothers demonstrated strong filial piety by collectively funding Lian San School (連三學校) in their hometown, named after their father. They maintained active links to Singapore (漳州十屬會舘 Zhangshou Ten Districts Association) and Tanjung Balai Karimun. Bukit Brown Block 1 E contains a family cluster: mother Mah Sia Lew (Plot 64) and Siong Oen Min's first wife Tay Pan Lan (Plot 78), reflecting deliberate family burial planning in Singapore.
Burial Location (Family Cluster – Bukit Brown Block 1 E):
Mother: Mah Sia Lew – Block 1 E Plot 64 (died 14 Apr 1924, age 63, interred 16 Apr 1924).
Siong Oen Min's first wife: Tay Pan Lan – Block 1 E Plot 78 (born 1873 11th month 4th day, died 1920 5th moon 3rd day age 47, interred 10 Jul 1924).
Siong Oen Hui & Siong Oen Min: Burial locations not confirmed in Bukit Brown; likely Tanjung Balai Karimun (Hui, d.1929) and/or Singapore/Fujian (Min).
Tomb Inscriptions & Observations
Bukit Brown Cemetery, Block 1 E, Plot 64. Died 14 April 1924, age 63.
Historical Records & Transcripts
Source: Traditional Chinese clan/community record, post-1929
常允惠先生·閩龍溪石碼人·成童之年·即南來荷屬之廖内·數年·易居吉里文之峇來地方·才數年·卽公船主往來於石叻坡透吉里文一帶·渐獲利·乃啟福和成魚業海味店·及碩莪廠於峇來·該業垂三十餘年於茲·并購屋置田不少·遂以大實業家稱·西曆一千九百二十四年·荷政府以其具有地方公益之勛勞·授爲雷珍蘭職·莫料至一千九百二十九年·忽謝世·享壽六十有二·而遺爱在人·舉僑界聞耗·無不傷悼焉·先生子國家鄉土·無不兼爱·曾與顏長貴發起石叻漳州十屬會舘·輸資不少·幷任董事·家鄉石碼·亦倡連三學校·經費皆其兄弟所支出·以其孝·故名其校爲父名也·吉里文培本學校·亦任董事。至于濟人之急·救人之困·雖至自己窮乏·必爲之焉·亦善士也·父連三·業儒·于淸立有功名·兄弟五·先生爲季·配楊女士·二子·嘉精·嘉登·
Source: Translation of the above memorial text
Mr. Siong Oen Hui (常允惠), a native of Shima, Longxi, Fujian. At the age of becoming a youth (around 12-15), he came south to the Dutch possession of Riau (Karimun). After several years, he moved to the Balai area of Tanjung Balai (Tanjung Balai Karimun). Within a few years, he became a shipowner, plying between Singapore and Tanjung Balai, gradually accumulating profits. He then established the Fook Ho Seng (福和成) dried fish, marine products, and sago factory business in Balai. This enterprise lasted more than thirty years. He also acquired considerable properties and lands, earning the reputation of a great industrialist. In 1924 AD, the Dutch government, recognizing his meritorious contributions to local public welfare, appointed him as Luitenant der Chinezen (雷珍蘭). Unexpectedly, in 1929, he passed away suddenly, aged 62. His loving legacy remains in people's hearts; upon hearing the news, the entire overseas Chinese community mourned him deeply.
He loved both his ancestral homeland and his adopted land equally. Together with Yen Chang Kwee (顏長貴), he initiated the founding of the Singapore Teochew (漳州) Ten Districts Association Hall (石叻漳州十屬會舘), donating generously and serving as a director. In his hometown of Shima, he advocated for the establishment of Lian San School (連三學校), with all expenses borne by him and his brothers. Due to his filial piety, the school was named after his father. He also served as a director of the Pei Ben School (培本學校) in Tanjung Balai. As for aiding those in urgent need and relieving the distressed—even when it meant his own hardship—he always did so. He was truly a good and virtuous man.
Father: Lian San (連三), a Confucian scholar who attained Qing honors. Five brothers, he being the youngest. Wife: Ms. Yang. Two sons: Jia Jing and Jia Deng.
Source: Traditional Chinese clan/community record, early-mid 20th century
常君允敏。一名巾文每。我閩龍溪石砥市人。少不讀書。但聰。得社會之沾習。遂能閱報。及寫粗淺倌牘。年十四。出洋到廖内經商。嗣居星洲。皆從正當職。以入利而起家。為人廓落任恤·於國則愛°於種則羣。對于國內國外。拯災救難。及一切教育等。蝓貲頗巨。尤不好名·故僑界少有知者。交友尚真摯。貴互助。親朋友侶·多能提携於困厄中。一生少言語。富信用·故高潔之士多歸之。父連三翁。母氏馬太夫人。皆己亡故·妻鄭湯二女士.子男多人。得聞名者·有堪逐君。女二。
南洋商報 12 July 1930 Pg 16
承退聲明
運啓者大坡老巴殺親丁厝後和信公司營業火柴生理原屬常允敏及陳智恆等所創設今為陳智恆抱恙後欲回祖國志圖別業愿將和信公司所佔股額應生以及店底家私等一概聽從公親人林xx周永泉兩人出為估值讓與常允敏承項而陳智恆立卽退股
民國十九年七月八日
承退股東人：陳智恆
常允敏 陳智恆 啟事
Source: Translation of the above memorial text
Mr. Siong Oen Min (常允敏), also known as Jin Wen Mei (巾文每). A native of Shima City (石碼), Longxi County (龍溪), Fujian Province (閩). In his youth, he did not receive formal education. However, he was intelligent and, through social exposure and habits, became able to read newspapers and write simple letters. At the age of fourteen, he went overseas to Karimun (廖內) to engage in commerce. Later, he settled in Singapore (星洲), where he always pursued legitimate occupations, gradually building his fortune and establishing himself.
He was an open-minded and generous person, compassionate and helpful. He loved his country and united with his fellow countrymen. Both domestically and abroad, he contributed substantial funds to disaster relief, aid efforts, and all kinds of educational causes. He particularly disliked seeking fame, so few in the overseas Chinese community knew of his deeds. In friendships, he valued sincerity and mutual assistance; many friends and companions he helped out of difficult situations. Throughout his life, he spoke little but was rich in credibility, so many upright and noble individuals gravitated toward him.
Father: Old Mr. Lian San (連三翁). Mother: Madam Ma (馬太夫人). Both have already passed away. Wives: Ms. Zheng and Ms. Tang (鄭湯二女士). Sons: many; the one known by name is Kan Chek Kun (堪逐君). Daughters: two.
Source: Historical compilation (courtesy Steve Haryono)
1876–1887: Oei Soen An
1887–1906: Oei Soei Tjing
1906–1924: Oei Liong Wan
1924–1929: Siong Oen Hoei (Hui) — died 1929
1929–1932: Kee Ban Kiat
1933–1934: Oei Liong Wan
🔍 Feature: Bukit Brown Block 1 E Family Cluster
Mah Sia Lew (mother) in Plot 64 and Tay Pan Lan (Siong Oen Min's first wife) in Plot 78 form a clear family burial group in Block 1 E. This arrangement is notable given the family's Fujian roots and business activities in Riau/Karimun, showing Singapore as an important long-term base for the family even after Siong Oen Hui's death in 1929 in the Dutch Indies.
References:
1. Bukit Brown Cemetery burial registers (Mah Sia Lew – Block 1 E Plot 64; Tay Pan Lan – Block 1 E Plot 78).
2. Traditional Chinese memorial eulogies for 常允惠 and 常允敏 (clan/community records).
3. Historical list of Chinese Lieutenants in Karimun/Tanjung Balai (courtesy Steve Haryono).
4. Family-provided tomb photographs (IMG_1282–IMG_1285.HEIC).
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