Our Family Museum

We had a cosy official launch of the community storyboard and opening of Haji Yusoff Memorial Museum (HYMM) on Sunday, 17 September 2023. I got the idea to set up HYMM when I visited the Ee Hoe Hean Club more than 15 years ago. Founded in 1895, the social and business club was one of the oldest clubs for millionaires in Singapore where like-minded Chinese businessmen networked.  As one of Tan Kah Kee postgraduate scholars, we were brought for a visit to the Hoe Hean Club.
As I was admiring the Chinese businessmen's spirit of entreprise and community, I had the idea to do one for my great-grandfather. So when the estate of Haji Yusoff was rebuilding our 717 North Bridge Road shophouse, I asked the trustees if we could turn the third level into a museum space. One of the reasons to set up HYMM was to take back our artefacts from the Malay Heritage Foundation (MHF) and the National Heritage Board. Our artefacts were broken, damaged and destroyed under MHF's 'care'. 

The people in-charge of HYMM:
Hidayah Amin (also known as Cik Idah) is the Cambridge-educated lead curator of the museum. I am the great-granddaughter of Haji Yusoff with Hajah Aishah, his second wife (Gedung Kuning family).

Nursafina Shariff is the great, great-granddaughter of Haji Yusoff with Noribah, his first wife (North Bridge Road family).

We helped set up HYMM without receiving any payment or allowance. Why? Cos' we ‘sayang’ (love) our ‘leluhur’ (ancestors) and family! Though the estate agreed to forgo rental and pay for utilities and transportation and restoration of the furniture, I paid for everything else for the museum. 

HYMM opens every last Saturday of the month (unless stated otherwise), 12pm to 6pm. Free entry. Follow HYMM on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

*Photos from MND photographer