The Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque has been gazetted as Singapore’s 68th national monument. Opened in 1932 by the Alkaffs, a prominent Arab family in Singapore, the mosque is the sixth mosque to be accorded this status by the National Heritage Board (NHB).
In a press release on Thursday (Dec 18), NHB said Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque “serves as a reminder of the Arab community’s significant presence and contributions to society in pre-war Singapore”. NHB added that the mosque is also the only identified landmark attributed to the Alkaffs which has remained largely intact over the years.
Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque is managed by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) today, and continues to be well used by the local Muslim community living nearby, said NHB. NHB also said the mosque has retained most of its earliest structure despite undergoing several expansions and renovations.
Mr Mohd Helmy Isa, director of mosques at MUIS, said: “We are honoured that Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque has been gazetted as a national monument.
“Working with the Mosque Management Committee, we were able to conserve features and preserve its heritage while adding to its functionality to meet the needs of its growing congregants. With the preservation, Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque will continue to be a hub of activities for the local Muslim community.”
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
