On 11 November 1939, the Malaya Tribune printed this advertisement:
FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED. Why worry about Health, Works, Business, Love, Marriage, Affairs, etc., just think of God, ask from him one fate number (any one number between 1 and 42, both numbers inclusive, and also 3 any questions (choose one of these alphabets and place it at the end of each question in brackets (S.M.T.W.X.F.Z.R.K.) and $1 together with it. Horoscope reading 3 questions $2. Consult in person or by post giving right birthdate to Ko Hla Maung, 588 Balestier Road, who will forecast your past, present and future by ancient Burmese Scientific methods.
If Ko Hla Maung could foretell the future, he would have known that 827 days after the advertisement was printed, Singapore would fall to an army of motivated Japanese invaders.
Because of the Japanese Occupation, Singapore became Syonan-to and its time zone was adjusted to follow Tokyo Time. The Straits Times changed its name to the Syonan Times. On 8 April 1942, this advertisement appeared in the Syonan Times:
ASTROLOGY.
ARE YOU WORRIED? Are you in doubt, difficulty and in distress about Health, Work. Business, Love, Marriage matters, etc. Just ask any three questions (Think of GOD first, then choose SM.T.WX.F.Z.R.K. at the end of each question) and send together with $1 to KO HLA MAUNG, No. 408, Thompson Road, Syonan, who will help you out of your present difficulties by the ANCIENT BURMESE PSYCHOMETRY METHODS. - Stamped addressed envelope requested for reply. - Free PERSONAL CONSULTATION AND ADVICE between the hours of 10 a.m. till 2p.m. (Tokyo time)
The Occupation did not terminate Ko Hla Maung's astrology business and the above ad (regularly printed in the Syonan Times from April to June) indicates that he changed his location and his rates. Ko's reference to psychometry shows an awareness of Western beliefs in the paranormal.
On 23 June 1942, Ko printed a new ad:
ASTROLOGY.
Do you want good LUCK? Do you wish to get first prize in LOTTERY? A good lucky Talisman of Venus is given free to each person who sends in three questions regarding about Work, Business, Love, Health, Marriage, Lottery and other private matters. NOTE: - Choose any one alphabet from A to Z and place at the end of each question. and send it together with $1 under registered cover to KO HLA MAUNG, 408 Thompson Road, Syonan, who will help you out of difficulties by the ANCIENT BURMESE OCCULTIST METHODS - Stamped address envelope requested for reply.
Even though times were hard, the human desire to strike it rich was still very much alive and Ko knew to tap into that impulse. This ad was regularly printed in the Syonan Times from June 1942 to August 1942.
I was unable to find any information about Ko Hla Maung during the Japanese Occupation, but his career continued after the war. On 9 July 1947, an advertisement announced that Ko had resumed his practice at the request of old clients. He charged $1.50 for any three questions. He continued advertising from 1948 to 1950. The last advertisement that I could find is dated 21 August 1950. By then, Ko had raised his rates to $3. This is about $19 in today's money.
None of Ko Hla Maung's advertisements indicate any background information about this astrologer. How did he learn astrology? Despite the lack of successful testimonials from clients, the fact that Ko could continue to advertise through at least three decades, unfazed by a World War, shows persistence and access to money.
On 21 January 1979, the Straits Times published a brief obituary to a Charles Augustus Brown, father of Jim, Barbara and Robin. The wake was held at Block 79, Toa Payoh Central. Brown was aged 84 when he passed away and his alias was Ko Hla Maung. He would have been in his late forties during the Japanese Occupation.
Although there is no evidence to connect this Charles Augustus Brown to the astrologer Ko Hla Maung, I cannot help but speculate: could Brown have been a Western practitioner of Burmese astrology who adopted a Burmese alias to make a living by answer pressing questions posed by Singaporeans from all walks of life?
Lee Yue Heng (09/01/2025)