Neighbours - Rumah Bombay at 4E Bedok Road

Kampong folk sometimes mistook them for Arabs, but the residents of Rumah Bombay - as the house at 4E Bedok Road (formerly 614) was affectionately known - actually hailed from Gujarat in India. (Yes, Gujarat was part of North Bombay before 1 May 1960.) They were one large extended family, led by their patriarch, the late Haji Kassim bin Adam, who ran a thriving dates business at 29 Arab Street under the company named “Kassim bin Adam Pte Ltd”.

They lived just next door to us, separated only by a simple fence. Abu Bakar, Haji Kassim’s grandson, still remembers vividly the day they moved in - January 1957 - and how the family transformed the former hostel/boarding house into a home spacious enough for the families of Haji Kassim’s seven children, their children, and grandchildren. The house eventually held nine bedrooms.

At its peak, more than forty family members lived together under that magnificent two storey roof fenced with beautiful, yellow-flowered Australia Gold Vine creepers. It was exactly as the patriarch wished: everyone united in one household.

The late Kak Min, the daughter in law of Haji Kassim’s eldest son, was especially close to our family. You could often find her chatting with the ladies of our kampong house in the soft glow of the evening. The family’s kindness extended beyond neighbourly warmth - they even allowed us to use their telephone during emergencies, as we did not have one of our own.

Our mother fondly recalls bringing us boys over whenever there was a wedding - and there were many - to enjoy the generous feast and return home with a lovely souvenir. Hari Raya was no different; their hospitality flowed as naturally as the kampong breeze.

After we moved out in October 1974, the family continued to live in Rumah Bombay for nearly two more decades. When government redevelopment of the area was announced, they held one final, heartfelt reunion in 1993 - gathering all branches of the family under the same roof one last time. The occasion was so meaningful that reporters from the Malay daily Berita Harian came to cover their story, publishing a full‑page feature on 12 September 1993.

The family eventually moved out later that month, dispersing across several HDB flats in different parts of Singapore.

We count ourselves blessed to have had the Rumah Bombay family as our neighbours and friends. And after more than fifty years, reconnecting with them again feels like rediscovering a cherished chapter of our kampong life.

Sincere thanks to Abu Bakar Haji Ibrahim for sharing the story of his family and the lovely photos.

614 then 4E Bedok Road affectionally known as "Rumah Bombay"

1961 side view of the house from our kampong house garden

1958 back view of the house, as seen from the beach front (our house arrowed)

Patriarch Haji Kassim bin Adam (photo courtesy of Abu Bakar Haji Ibrahim)

1957, Kak Min who just moved in and at the beach posing with our paternal Aunt Mary

1970 photo taken from our house with both Kak Min and Auntie Mary having one of many evening chats over the fence

The lovely Australia Gold Vine gracing the fences

The Berita Harian Berita Minggu article on 12 September 1993 page 8

Following is the English translation transcript of the article above:

12 September 1993. Berita Harian Berita Minggu Page 8

https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/beritaharian19930912-1.1.8

Himpunan 'terakhir' di rumah pusaka - The ‘last’ gathering at the ancestral house

"This person is my late husband's niece. She is also my mother-in-law. I am her eldest daughter-in-law. That one is my nephew. He is also the son of my younger sister, because his late father married my sisters one after another (after each previous wife passed away).Five of my sisters married male cousins from my father's side," said Hajah Momin Bee Ahmad, 68.

You may be confused.

But such is the family lineage of the late Kassim Adam, who was well known for his successful business ventures.

Last week, all members of his family and descendants, together with those of his late wife Hajah Salmah Bee Haji Daud, gathered for a farewell gathering at his ancestral home on Bedok Road.

Nearly 80 children, grandchildren, relatives and great-grandchildren of the late Kassim gathered at the house, which was nearly 100 years old.

"Just mention Rumah Bombay (Bombay House) and everyone in the village knows this house. It received that nickname because my late grandfather came from North Bombay," said Encik Abu Bakar Haji Ibrahim, 48, one of the late Kassim's grandchildren.

Although the house was nearly 100 years old, several of the late Kassim's descendants who attended the farewell gathering said that the house had only become the property of the late Kassim about 40 years ago.

The house had to be vacated because it was affected by a government redevelopment project for the area.

Originally, the house had been a hostel or boarding house, with walls made only of wooden planks.

After the late Encik Kassim acquired the house, he replaced the wooden walls with brick walls and a tiled roof. "This is the house in which most of us grew up. Six of my late father-in-law's seven children lived in this house. Only one moved out after getting married. My late father-in-law wanted all his children and grandchildren to live under one roof. That is why, according to him, he bought this large house," said Hajah Momin.

The family's original home had been at Bali Lane, near Jalan Sultan. When they moved to the two-storey bungalow on Bedok Road, the late Kassim had already become a widower.

The bungalow had nine bedrooms. One of these rooms was used by the late Kassim to sleep together with all of his grandsons.

The granddaughters also slept in a shared room, but together with Hajah Momin, who had become a widow only three years after her marriage.

Today, only three of the late Kassim's seven children are still alive—two daughters and one son.

According to his children and grandchildren, the late Kassim was someone who held firmly to rules and discipline.

During his lifetime, his grandchildren were not allowed to move about freely. If the girls wanted to leave the house, they had to be accompanied by a male guardian, even if it was just to go to the shop.

“Even then, it couldn’t be just any shop. We were only allowed to go to certain shops. And whenever we left or entered the house, we had to inform someone. If not, my father‑in‑law would show his displeasure. No one was allowed to be outside the house after maghrib,” explained Hajah Momin.

Because almost everyone lived under one roof, an average of more than 30 of his grandchildren stayed in the big house at any one time. This naturally meant they did not need to look for friends outside.

Eating, drinking, playing, sleeping and everything else were done together. So none of them ever felt lonely, they said. In fact, when the time came for each family to move out one by one and live independently in their own flats, a sense of discomfort arose among them.

One of them was Mr Bakar, who now lives in a flat in Pasir Ris. “My relatives who have moved into flats often come to this house and complain about feeling lonely. I’ve also started to feel the loneliness. But fortunately, most of us live in the same estate. Some are in Tampines, but the majority of us are in Pasir Ris,” he said.

The farewell gathering began with a doa selamat prayer. It was followed by a feast and various types of games.

A week before the event was held, all family members gathered to receive the distribution of the late Kassim’s heirlooms.

Rules for living in a large family

The cooks worked on a daily rotation. And they would be assisted by the young unmarried daughters — as a form of training to prepare themselves before becoming homemakers.

That was among the family‑living rules set by the late Kassim Adam for his children and grandchildren.

“All five cooks were not outsiders. They were all the daughters and daughters‑in‑law of the late Kassim. I was one of them.

Regardless of whose turn it was, they had to cook four types of dishes. Two for lunch and two for dinner. But everything was cooked at the same time. Usually, the main dish for lunch was fish, and for dinner it would be either beef or chicken. The remaining dish would be a vegetable.

And whoever cooked that day would also be the one responsible for tidying up and washing all the plates and bowls after the meal,” explained Hajah Momin, as she recounted her experience living in the large household of her late father‑in‑law.

Besides cooking, the late Kassim also set the rule that the male and female grandchildren must eat separately. The male grandchildren had to eat first, followed by the female grandchildren.

A long table that could accommodate up to 15 chairs was the place where the family members gathered to eat every day.

“Even though there were many of us, we never felt burdened preparing the meals. At that time, our family did not hire any outside help. My late father‑in‑law never encouraged us to use the services of a helper. He preferred that we manage all household matters ourselves,” added Hajah Momin.

Wedding garments and burial items among the heirlooms

Two chests — one containing items for wedding ceremonies and the other for managing the dead — are among the inherited heirlooms left behind by the late Kassim Adam. Among the items found in the chest for wedding use were several pieces of bridal clothing for both bride and groom embroidered with real gold thread, various decorative hats made of brocade fabric, a sitting mat for the groom during the solemnisation ceremony, a mengkuang fan covered in velvet and embroidered with gold thread, a cloth base for brass trays used to hold the accompanying gifts for the wedding expenses, and so on. Meanwhile, the other chest contained several white towels for wiping the body after the ritual bath, a mat for lining the coffin, a curtain for the bathing area, a cloth to cover the coffin, a prayer mat to place beneath the body after it is shrouded, and sandalwood to be mixed into the water used for bathing the deceased. “All the items in these chests will not be divided among us. Instead, they will remain as family property and may be used by anyone who needs them,” said Encik Abu Bakar Haji Ibrahim, 48, one of the grandchildren of the late Kassim.

 

Photo captions:

"Meja panjang: Inilah meja panjang di mana mereka yang berada di dalam gambar pernah makan bersama-sama setiap hari. Pada 4 September lalu, anak cucu Allahyarham Kassim berkumpul buat kali terakhir di banglo peninggalan Allahyarham (gambar sisipan). – Gambar BM oleh M.O. Salleh."

Ø  “The long table: This is the long table where the people shown in the photograph once ate together every day. On 4 September, the children and grandchildren of the late Kassim gathered for the last time at the bungalow he left behind (inset photo). – BM photo by M.O. Salleh.”

 

“Baju pengantin: Antara barang peninggalan Allahyarham”

Ø  “Wedding attire: Among the belongings left behind by the late (him).”

 

“Peralatan mandi mayat: Termuat dalam satu peti pusaka Allahyarham”

Ø  “Burial‑washing equipment: Contained in one of the late (his) heirloom chests.”

Original Malay text (there may be errors, with apologies):

Himpunan ‘terakhir’ di rumah pusaka

“SAYA ni anak saudara arwahnya, sebelah isteri. Beliau juga mentua saya. Saya menantunya yang sulung.

“Yang itu, anak saudara saya. Beliau tu pulak anak tiri adik saya, sebab arwah bapanya kahwin berganti tikar dengan adik-beradik perempuan saya.

“Lima orang adik-beradik perempuan saya berkahwin dengan sepupu-sepupu lelaki sebelah bapa saya,” kata Hajah Momin Bee Ahmad, 68 tahun.

Anda mungkin bingung.

Tetapi itulah salasilah keluarga Allahyarham Kassim Adam yang terkenal dengan perniagaan kormannya.

Minggu lalu, kesemua anggota keluarga dari keturunan beliau dan Allahyarhamha isterinya, Hajah Salmah Bee Haji Daud, berkumpul untuk satu majlis perpisahan di rumah pusaka beliau di Bedok Road.

Hampir 80 orang anak, cucu, anak-anak saudara dan cucu-cucu saudara Allahyarham berkumpul di rumah yang berusia hampir 100 tahun itu.

“Sebut saja Rumah Bombay semua orang kampung tahu rumah ini. Rumah ini mendapat gelaran demikian kerana Allahyarham datuk saya berasal dari Utara Bombay,” kata Encik Abu Bakar Haji Ibrahim, 48 tahun, salah seorang cucu Allahyarham Encik Kassim.

Walaupun sudah berusia hampir 100 tahun, kata beberapa orang anak cucu Allahyarham yang berkumpul di majlis perpisahan itu, rumah tersebut hanya menjadi milik Allahyarham kira-kira 40 tahun lalu.

Rumah itu terpaksa dikosongkan kerana ia terlibat dalam projek pemerintah untuk membangun semula kawasan tersebut.

Rumah itu pada mulanya adalah sebuah asrama atau boarding house, berdinding papan saja.

Setelah Allahyarham Encik Kassim memilikinya, beliau menukar dinding daripada papan kepada batu dengan berbumbung genting.

“Di rumah inilah sebahagian besar daripada kami dibesarkan. Enam daripada tujuh orang anak arwah mentua saya tinggal di rumah ini. Hanya seorang berpindah selepas berumahtangga.

“Memang Allahyarham mentua saya mahu kesemua anak cucunya berkumpul di bawah satu bumbung. Sebab itulah katanya, beliau beli rumah besar ini,” kata Hajah Momin.

Rumah asal keluarga besar ini ialah di Bali Lane, dekat Jalan Sultan. Semasa berpindah ke rumah banglo dua tingkat di Bedok Road itu, Allahyarham Kassim sudah pun menjadi duda.

Rumah banglo tersebut mempunyai sembilan bilik tidur. Sebuah daripadanya digunakan oleh Allahyarham Kassim untuk tidur bersama kesemua cucu lelakinya.

Cucu-cucu perempuan juga tidur sebilik, tetapi dengan Hajah Momin yang menjadi janda hanya selepas tiga tahun berumahtangga.

Kini, hanya tiga daripada tujuh anak Allahyarham yang masih hidup – dua perempuan dan seorang lelaki.

Menurut anak cucunya lagi, Allahyarham adalah seorang yang sangat kuat berpegang pada peraturan dan disiplin.

Semasa hayatnya, anak cucunya tidak dibenarkan bergerak bebas. Kalau anak-anak perempuan hendak keluar rumah, mereka harus ditemani oleh salah seorang mahram, sekalipun setakat untuk ke kedai.

“Kedai pun bukan sebarang kedai. Kami hanya boleh pergi ke kedai-kedai tertentu. Dan nak keluar masuk rumah mesti beritahu. Kalau tidak, mentua saya akan tarik muka masam. Tidak seorang pun dibenarkan berada di luar rumah selepas maghrib,” jelas Hajah Momin.

Oleh kerana hampir semua tinggal sebumbung, maka purata lebih 30 orang anak cucunya tinggal di rumah besar itu pada satu-satu masa. Ini dengan sendirinya bermakna, mereka tidak perlu mencari kawan di luar rumah.

Makan, minum, bermain, tidur dan sebagainya, semuanya dilakukan bersama-sama.

Jadi tidak ada yang kesunyian, kata mereka.

Malah apabila tiba masanya satu demi satu keluarga terpaksa berpindah dan hidup berdikari di flat masing-masing, maka timbul rasa kurang senang di kalangan mereka.

Antaranya ialah Encik Bakar yang kini tinggal di sebuah flat di Pasir Ris.

“Saudara-mara saya yang dah tinggal di flat sering datang ke rumah ini dan mengadu kesunyian. Saya pun dah mula terasa sunyi. Tetapi nasib baik kebanyakan kami tinggal di estet yang sama. Ada yang di Tampines tetapi kebanyakan kami di Pasir Ris,” kata beliau.

Majlis perpisahan itu telah didahului dengan upacara membaca doa selamat. Ia diikuti oleh jamuan dan pelbagai jenis permainan.

Seminggu sebelum majlis diadakan, semua anggota keluarga berkumpul untuk menerima pembahagian barang-barang pusaka Allahyarham Kassim.

Nota: Ada satu perkataan dalam bahagian awal yang kelihatan agak kabur dalam imej — “kormannya” — tetapi itulah bacaan yang paling jelas daripada keratan asal.

 

Peraturan hidup dalam keluarga besar

LIMA tukang masak bekerja secara bergilir setiap hari. Dan mereka akan dibantu oleh anak-anak dara – sebagai satu bentuk latihan untuk melengkap diri sebelum menjadi suri rumah.

Itulah antara peraturan hidup berkeluarga yang ditetapkan oleh Allahyarham Kassim Adam untuk anak cucunya.

“Kelima-lima orang tukang masak itu bukan orang lain. Mereka semua adalah anak dan menantu perempuan Allahyarham. Saya adalah salah seorang daripada mereka.

“Tidak peduli siapa punya giliran, mereka mesti memasak empat jenis lauk. Dua untuk makan siang dan dua untuk makan malam. Tapi semuanya dimasak serentak. Lazimnya, lauk utama untuk makan siang ialah ikan dan untuk makan malam pula sama ada daging atau ayam. Yang satu lauk lagi itu, dari jenis sayur.

“Dan siapa yang memasak pada hari itu, dialah juga yang perlu mengemas dan mencuci semua pinggan-mangkuk selepas makan,” jelas Hajah Momin, semasa menceritakan pengalamannya tinggal dalam sebuah keluarga besar Allahyarham mentuanya itu.

Selain memasak, Allahyarham Kassim juga menetapkan bahawa anak cucu lelaki dan perempuan mesti makan berasingan. Anak cucu lelaki mesti makan dulu dan kemudian baru anak cucu perempuan.

Sebuah meja panjang yang boleh menampung hingga 15 buah kerusi merupakan tempat anggota-anggota keluarganya berkumpul untuk makan setiap hari.

“Sungguhpun ramai, kami tidak pula terasa susah untuk menyiapkan makanan mereka. Masa itu pula, keluarga kami tidak mengajikan pembantu dari luar. Memang Allahyarham mentua saya tak galakkan kami menggunakan khidmat pembantu. Beliau mahu kami sendiri menguruskan semua ehwal rumahtangga,” tambah Hajah Momin.

 

Baju pengantin, urus mayat antara peninggalan

Dua buah peti yang masing-masing berisi perkakas untuk pengantin dan mengurus mayat, adalah antara harta pusaka peninggalan Allahyarham Kassim Adam.

Antara peralatan yang terdapat di dalam peti untuk perkakas pengantin ialah beberapa helai pakaian pengantin perempuan dan lelaki yang bersulam benang emas tulen, beberapa jenis topi berhias dari kain broked, alas duduk pengantin lelaki semasa bernikah, kipas mengkuang bersalut kain baldu bersulam benang emas, kain alas dulang tembaga untuk mengisi hadiah pengiring hantaran belanja dan sebagainya.

Sementara peti yang satu lagi itu pula mengandungi beberapa helai tuala putih untuk mengelap mayat selepas dimandikan, tikar alas keranda, tabir untuk bilik mandi mayat, kain penutup keranda, sejadah untuk mengalas mayat selepas dikafankan dan kayu cendana untuk dicampurkan ke dalam air pemandian mayat.

“Kesemua perkakas dalam peti ini tidak akan kami bahagi-bahagikan. Sebaliknya, ia akan terus dijadikan sebagai milik keluarga dan boleh digunakan oleh sesiapa saja yang memerlukannya,” kata Encik Abu Bakar Haji Ibrahim, 48 tahun, salah seorang cucu Allahyarham.