Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History

VJ Day Victory over Japan Day, the day that World War II (WWII) ended in Asia, is commemorated around the world on both August 15th, when Japan surrendered in 1945, and on September 2 when the surrender documents were formally signed, also in 1945. As the anniversary of VJ Day draws near, ceremonies and reflections will unfold around the world. In Malaysia and Singapore, however, the date passes with relatively little official recognition. The Japanese invasion of Malaya and Singapore, including the Fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942, and ending with Japan’s surrender three and a half years later, remains a defining but selectively remembered chapter in Southeast Asian history. An AI-generated image of Lieutenant General Arthur Percival surrendering to General Yamashita (generated using ChatGPT, June 2025,  prompt: Percival surrendering to Yamashita) Historical Memory: What We Remember ... Or Forget Certain events, and associated images, have become iconic. Some contemporaneous...

The Spark: One TikTok, One Comment, Hundreds of Reactions A minor storm erupted online this week when a British woman’s offhand remark about Singapore’s “lack of heritage” triggered waves of indignation across social media. The comment, captured in a street interview and posted on TikTok, was picked up by AsiaOne and then blasted across Facebook, where it racked up nearly 800 comments, mostly from Singaporeans. The original TikTok video had already amassed 148,000 views and over 700 comments. The Viral Headline? And the replies poured in. From the witty to the wounded, reactions included: • “She wants an ancient relic? Just go to the mirror.” • “Who invited you anyway?” • “Singapore isn’t even 60 — my grandma has more heritage.” Missing the Point: Heritage ≠ History While the outrage was predictable, the real issue lies in the widespread confusion revealed in the comments. Let’s clear a few things up: • History and heritage are not the same thing. • History doesn’t start or s...

Tyersall Estate Deal Raises Eyebrows—and Ghosts of the Past The Tyersall estate—where the overgrown ruins of Istana Woodneuk still stand shrouded in tangled greenery—burst back into the headlines this week after a land deal between the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, and the Singapore government. The once-grand palace, now a silent shell hidden behind the Botanic Gardens, has long been the subject of public fascination. This latest development raises fresh questions—not only about real estate, but about the layers of history buried beneath the estate’s moss-covered foundations. Learn more in Palace of Ghosts For years, any hope of development had been stymied by the Singapore government’s zoning restrictions, which designated the Tyersall land for “special use.” But now, a deal has been struck. A portion of the Regent’s land will be swapped for a nearby government-owned plot. Here’s the irony: the land the government is giving up was originally acquired in 2005 through a compuls...

In today’s world, it might be hard to feel much sympathy for someone like Lydia Cecilia Hill. And yet, the young woman known to us as Cecily in Palace of Ghosts emerges as a figure steeped in quiet tragedy, her story threaded with a sense of elegy. It is easy to imagine that some fragile echo of her spirit still clings to the decaying walls of Istana Woodneuk, where she stayed for a brief visit in the 1930s — a fleeting presence now folded into the mansion’s long twilight. Lydia Cecilia Hill (1913-1940) photograph from 1938 Find out more: read the story A Familiar Story Imagine this: a teenage girl with little formal education, from a small country town, but gifted with striking beauty and irresistible talent; she lands a job at a prestigious London dance club. There, she meets a man decades her senior—wealthy, worldly, powerful and handsome. He lavishes her with gifts, praise, and affection. To her, it must have felt like the start of a dazzling new life. It’s a story we’ve heard bef...

One of the National Museum of Singapore’s most treasured artifacts is a large, full-length portrait of Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham. For many museum visitors, perhaps those unfamiliar with the history of the region, it may not be the subject of the painting that draws attention—rather, it is the artist: John Singer Sargent. That Singapore even possesses a work by this world-renowned painter is remarkable in itself. And yet the subject of the painting happens to be one of the most controversial and scandalous figures ever to walk the corridors of power in Singapore and Malaya—and a man who plays a pivotal role in Palace of Ghosts . A close up of the portrait of Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham by John Singer Sargent from the Collection of the National Museum of Singapore Find our more: read the book He is introduced in the book’s Dramatis Personae as follows: “ SIR FRANK ATHELSTANE SWETTENHAM (1850–1946). Swettenham was Governor of the Straits Settlements between 1901 and 1904, and r...

Today marks 30 days since the launch of Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History , and I’m truly overwhelmed by the response it has received. There’s something irresistibly compelling about hidden histories. Even the most devoted fans of fiction seem drawn to the idea that truth—especially the kind long buried—can be stranger than anything imagined. This story, rooted in a distant past yet echoing powerfully into the lives of today’s youth, carries a resonance that feels both timely and timeless. Find of what everybody is talking about   On this one month aniversary of the book's publishing, I would lke to say a big thank you to the many people who have bought the book, who have supported me through thick and thin and believed in the power of this story.

I've often said that Palace of Ghosts: Singapore's Untold History  spans a vast timeline—from the 1780s all the way to the present day. Without giving anything away, I wanted to share a small teaser that hints at how the properties featured in Palace of Ghosts: Singapore’s Untold History have now evolved into the foundation of one of the city-state’s most enduring urban legends that seems to resonate deeply within contemporary Singapore culture. Find out more: read the book These videos and photos aren’t mine, and full credit goes to their original creators. I'm sharing them here simply to show how the myths, mysteries—and perhaps even hauntings—surrounding these old palaces have taken on a life of their own in the 21st century. The internet is full of intriguing bits and pieces about the location some of which I will post over the next few weeks. Here’s a great example from a YouTuber who goes by “Simon Says.” ( Simon Says ) Enjoy! Find out more: read the book