MOSQUE IN JURONG WEST

Mr R. Ravindran asked the Minister for Community Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs whether a new mosque will be built in the Jurong West area.

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: There are at present 71 mosques and 7 new ones planned under Phase III of the Mosque Building Programme (MBP). Some 14 mosques are affected by approved public schemes or being phased out. MUIS is making a thorough review of the MBP to meet both capacity and replacement needs. Masjid Majapahit falls within the Development Guide Plan (DGP) for Jurong West. It has been earmarked for redevelopment as public housing by HDB. MUIS is aware that the DGP has projected a growth in dwelling units to 95,800. The other mosque in Jurong West, Masjid Assyakirin, will not be able to accommodate the demand for prayer space should Masjid Majapahit not be replaced. The MUIS study will take the national needs and specific situations like that of Jurong West into consideration in the new MBP. The new MBP will be reviewed with the relevant authorities as the national plan for mosque development. chart - Projected COE Quota for 1998/99, COE Quota for 1996/97-1997/98 (Cols. 1183 - 1184)