Farewell “Bukit Batok Ah Ma”!
Block 107, Bukit Batok Avenue 6 has been the wake location of centenarian, Mdm Ng Ah Luan (黄亚鸾), for the past six days.
More affably known as “Bukit Batok Ah Ma” in her neighbourhood, she was admitted to hospital on Nov 4 experiencing breathing difficulties. On the morning of 7 November 2021, she passed away peacefully. She was 104.
The matriarch of a 5-generation family, she was one of the three centenarians that were featured by Bukit Batok Member of Parliament, Murali Pillai on his Facebook in May 2020.
In it, when asked how she had maintained a harmonious family, Mdm Ng shared some wise words with us:
Everyone should cooperate with one another. Food is one way to bond the family. I like to cook, and the family would always gather for a meal. Simply put, be more easygoing. Bickers do not really matter. No need to get into arguments. It’s always best to live in harmony.
Source: Murali Pillai's Facebook page
“As the matriarch of a 5-generation family, Mdm Ng certainly has the authority to share her advice”, Mr Murali Pillai told Chinese evening daily, Lianhe Wanbao.
According to her daughter, Mdm Yeo, 73, whom Lianhe Wanbao interviewed, Mdm Ng was born on the island of Hainan, and she learnt Cantonese, Hokkien, Mandarin on her own after coming to Singapore. She could even speak a few sentences in English and Malay which enabled her to interact with different people and communities.
My mother has “a cheerful personality, and she is able to hold a conversation with practically anyone, regardless of their age, be it the elderly neighbour next door or her great grandchildren”, Mdm Yeo added.
Mdm Yeo continued, “all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved her very much, and whenever they visit her, they were keen to hear her life stories, an experience which my mother enjoys very much”.
In fact, according to her daughter, despite her age, she remembers the name of every one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren as well as the name of the female classmates whom her great-grandchild brings home – she even invites them to visit her at least once a year!
“Whenever she’s free at home, with much gusto, she would relish the chance to recall the name of her every child, grandchild and great-grandchild.” Mdm Yeo reminisced.
Her 53-year granddaughter told Lianhe Wanbao that even though Ah Ma became more health conscious in her seventies, "she [still] loves to stir-fry vegetables with lard from fatty meat, and she has a weak spot for durians”. She would often requests that the maid buys her a durian and she will eat it to her heart's content.
Mr Murali Pillai said, “It was my honour to have known Mdm Ng, we will miss her very much. May she rest in peace”.
Today we mourn the passing of a quintessential Singaporean, an affable matriarch and a well-loved centenarian, and we also thank her for the wisdom that she has bestowed to us and her family.
As Mdm Ng puts it, “it’s always best to live in harmony”. A classy Bukit Batok Ah Ma indeed!
Mdm Ng’s funeral, which will follow traditional Hainanese rituals, will be held on Nov 13, and she will be cremated at Mandai Crematorium, Service Hall 01 at 12.05p.m.
Farewell, Mdm Ng Ah Luan. You will be missed by one and all!
Top image: Murali Pillai's Facebook page. Mdm Ng's name should be "Ng Ah Luan"
