Solved – The Mystery of the Pasir Ris Red House

Have you heard of the Pasir Ris Red House?

It is an abandoned house situated along a road known as Jalan Loyang Besar, and is very popular with youths as infamously haunted.

 

The Public will know it as either the Pasir Ris Red House, Loyang Red House, the Pasir Ris Opera House, or the CK Tang House just to name afew. 

The passing of the ex-owner of the Red House has prompted API to reveal the facts, & demystify the myths and urban legends behind this infamous House.

(Above Photo taken from http://gardeningwithwilson.com/)

Loke Yuen Peng was born in 1917, the youngest daughter of Loke Yew and Lim Cheng Kim. She was also the sister of the late Loke Wan Tho, founder of Cathay Organisation.

She married Sir Percy McNeice (knighted in 1956, same year as his retirement from civil service) in her late twenties .

Sir Percy McNeice held many key posts in the early days of civil service. His appointments included the Secretary of Chinese Affairs, President of the Singapore Municipal Commissions, President of the City Councillor and Head of the Singapore Improvement Trust (forerunner of HDB). He set up and became first Social Welfare Secretary of the Social Welfare Department or SWD in 1946. (we now know it as MCYS). Sir Percy McNeice was also a founder and President of the Singapore Family Planning Board in 1959.  Lady McNeice too was heavily involved in public and community service, having served in many associations and organisations. In her later years she would be known also as a wildlife enthusiast, gardener and ardent conservationist.

In 1948, the Red House was purchased by Lady McNeice’s mother who gave it to her, and it was used primarily to help the people of Kampong Loyang (as the place was then known).

The Social Welfare Department had to deal with alot of poverty and hunger among the people, and in 1946 started setting up what was known as “The People’s Restaurants”, where cheap yet nutritious meals were sold.

In 1947, the Children’s Feeding Centres were also set up, to provide free daily meal to young children.

(above photo of children eating at a Social Welfare Feeding Centre, taken from National Archives.)

There were also other social problems like shortage of primary schools, parents who worked so hard and had little time for their children, most of the kids and teenagers were left to their own devices.

Because when the young kids ate their free meal, their older siblings would often stood around idly. They were then also brought into the Feeding Centres and taught simple skills like English and Carpentry, just to keep them off the streets and so reduce juvenile delinquency.

As a result of its increased role in providing educational programs besides providing food, in 1948 the Children’s Feeding Centres were renamed as the Children Social Centres.

(above photo of young teens learning handicraft at a Social Welfare Centre, taken from National Archives.)

Lady McNeice was a selfless voluntary community worker and she took charges of many Children Social Centres. At times she and her husband would take their meals at the Centre, eating the same food as the young children.

Under the lead of Sir Percy McNeice, the SWD also had other initiatives to help the people, like the setting of Maternity and Infant Welfare Centres, Child Care Centres, and Travelling Dispensaries to regularly visit the rural kampongs of Singapore.

(above photo of mothers and kids at a Maternity and Child Welfare centre, taken from National Archives)

The Red House, being privately own by Lady McNeice, must have served all kinds of needs arising from a rural kampong without much amenities.

In 1960, the People’s Association (PA) was established, and took over all community functions and later on, the grassroot activities. 

With the formation of such grassroots management activities, the Red House then lost its purpose, and in 1964, was sold off to Tang Choon Keng Realty Ltd (CK Tang).

The House had remained it its present state till now.

The Red House had served its purpose well for almost 20 years. Can you imagine the pitter patter of young feet, and the laughter, tears and cries of our young children?

It is sad to think that now it stand there now forlornly, with a future uncertain.

If you were 1 of those kids who ever ate, or spend a time or 2 at the lady McNeice’s Welfare Centre at Kampong Loyang before, do share your story at stories@api.sg.