CONSTRUCTION OF MOSQUES

Mr M.K.A. Jabbar asked the Acting Minister for Social Affairs if he will list (i) the names of old mosques which have been pulled down to give way to development since 1960; (ii) the number of new mosques which have been completed and their locations; and (iii) the number of mosques which will be built in the next two or three years and their locations.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: (i) Old mosques which have been pulled down (Cols. 1465 - 1468) pulled down - List of mosques built by MUIS since 1975 and old mosques demolished since 1968 by Postal District (Cols. 1465 - 1468)

Eighteen mosques in Singapore and seven mosques in the southern islands have been demolished since 1968. Their names are listed in Column 3 of Appendix 1 (Cols. 1465 - 1468).

The mosques in the southern islands, namely, Pulau Bukom Kechil, Pulau Brani, Pulau Seraya, Pulau Semakau, Pulau Sekijang Pelepah and Pulau Sudong are no longer required because all the islanders previously living there have been rehoused in Singapore.

With regard to the mosques in Singapore, three in Postal Districts 12, 13 and 19, with a combined capacity for 650 worshippers, were demolished, but in their place MUIS built Masjid Muhajirin in Toa Payoh which can comfortably accommodate 1,400 worshippers. Three mosques in Postal Districts 7, 9 and 10, with a combined capacity for 1,050 worshippers, were demolished and in their place MUIS built Masjid Mujahidin in Queenstown which can accommodate 2,500 worshippers. One mosque in Kampong Tuas with a capacity for 100 worshippers was demolished and Masjid Assyakirin in Jurong was built to accommodate 2,700 worshippers. Masjid Sembawang with a capacity for 180 worshippers was demolished and Masjid An-Nur with a capacity for 2,800 worshippers was built. In the Geylang/Changi Districts, eight mosques with a combined capacity for 1,800 worshippers were demolished, but Masjid Al-Ansar which was built by MUIS can cater for 3,000 worshippers. Another mosque, Masjid Darul Aman, is being built at the junction of Jalan Eunos and Changi Road which, when completed in 1986, can accommodate about 3,000 worshippers, Finally, two mosques in the Serangoon/Jalan Kayu area with a combined capacity for 300 worshippers were demolished and the En-Naeem Mosque (Hougang) was built to cater for 1,400 worshippers.

The eighteen mosques in Singapore that were demolished had a total capacity for 4,130 worshippers. The seven new mosques that were built since 1975, however, have an aggregate capacity for almost four times this number.

(ii) Number of new mosques which have been completed and their locations

The Mosque Building Fund (MBF) Scheme was implemented in 1975. To-date, seven mosques have been built in Housing and Development Board Estates. They are:- Name of Location Date of Existing Mosque Completion Capacity _____________________________________________________________ 1 Muhajirin Braddell Road (Toa Payoh) 8.4.77 1,400 2 Mujahidin 590 Stirling Road 9.10.77 2,500 (Queenstown) 3 Assyakirin 550 Yung An Road (Jurong) 30.4.78 2,700 4 An-Nur Admiralty Road (Woodlands) 20.4.80 2,800 5 Al-Muttaqin Ave 6 Ang Mo Kio 21.9.80 2,700 6 Al-Ansar Bedok North Ave 1 14.6.81 3,000