ALKAFF MOSQUE

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development what his Ministry's plans are for Alkaff Mansion in Kaki Bukit in the redevelopment of the area, whether the Mosque will be preserved for use by the residents in the area or whether it will be demolished along with all the other houses in the area.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: The Muslim MPs and the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) have appealed to me on several occasions to preserve the Alkaff Mosque. However, I have not been able to accede to the request as the Alkaff Mosque is affected by the comprehensive redevelopment of the Kaki Bukit area.

For the last two decades, the Government has been undertaking extensive redevelopment and renewal programmes. Religious institutions and places of worship including mosques, churches and temples affected by public redevelopment schemes are demolished together with all other structures in the areas concerned. Similarly, the Alkaff Mosque has to be demolished with other structures as the Kaki Bukit area undergoes comprehensive redevelopment.

At present, 70% of the population of Singapore live in HDB new towns and estates. More people will be moving into new towns as redevelopment proceeds. Places of worship and other essential social amenities have to be relocated to the population centres they serve. Consequently, within the new towns, land is set aside for the building of mosques, churches and temples. As the facilities in new towns are all properly planned, the new mosques built, like the new residential buildings, are better than the old ones which they replace.

After several discussions with the Muslim MPs and MUIS, my Ministry has agreed to allocate a site for the construction of a new mosque to replace the Alkaff Mosque. This site is at the junction of Bedok North Road and Bedok Reservoir Road.