A speech by Mr Mohamed Mirza Namazie, Chairman of the MMB, at the opening of

Masjid Moulana Mohd Ali

Throwing light at the history of the relocated mosque

MASJID Moulana Mohd Ali had its origins in Singapore at 16 and 18 Market Street, a pair of double-storey shophouses comprising an area of 1660 sq. ft. These were purchased in 1953 and 1955 by 3 far-sighted gentlemen who understood the need to have a place of worship in the central business district.

Moulana Mohd Ali ("MMA") who lived from 1878-1931 was a well- known defender of Islamic Khilafet and it was his name that was adopted by the Muslim League which ran the mosque. MMA started the movement to safeguard the khilafet when the British and its allies defeated Turkey in the 1st World War.

MMA was a political leader, journalist, poet and a learned man educated in Oxford. There was fear when the British defeated Turkey in the 1st World War that the khilafet would be destroyed and all places of worship of Muslims taken over. MMA rallied his Muslim colleagues and brothers in India to safeguard the khilafet.

The khilafet movement died naturally when Mustafa Kamal abolished the khilafet in 1924.

MMA participated in the Round Table Conference for organizing the Freedom of India in London in 1930. He died soon after and is buried in the precincts of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. He was so highly regarded by the Muslim world that Egyptian Poet Ahmad Shauki wrote his eulogy and he was the subject of a number of poems by the famous Pakistani poet Mohamed Iqbal. MMA is not to be confused with Mohamed Ali Jinnah, better known as the founder of Pakistan or Mohd Ali, the Lahori of the Ahmadiyah movement who translated the Quran into English.

Going back to the mosque at Market Street, - in the late '70s and '80s, the business district was expanding rapidly, - roads were being widened and new modern skyscrapers were being built where shophouses once stood. The then trustees of the mosque were faced with the reality of a probable widening of the road in Market Street which would probably have resulted in the property being acquired. Against this backdrop, there was United Overseas Bank ("UOB") whose plan for a massive development could not proceed because MMA was smack in the middle of it. UOB had alas bought up several properties surrounding the mosque for its intended development.

Negotiation then took place with UOB who tried to find a suitable alternative site for the mosque in the heart of the business district without success as locality, orientation and government approvals were essential.

As a result, in June 1982, an agreement was entered into to exchange the two Market Street shophouses for the present mosque. UOB took a long time to develop the site owing presumably to economic conditions prevailing in the 1980's.

UOB had offered the 3rd level basement. This however is one of its unique features as not many of us have ever been to a mosque below ground level.

The trustees were also aware of the importance of retaining a mosque in the heart of the business district. This mosque is four times bigger than the two Market Street shophouses. It is modern, air-conditioned and though not opulent, fairly respectably furnished.

The site for the mosque was handed over to the Mosque Management Board (MMB) in September/October 1992. A lot of work has gone into fitting out this mosque in the last two to three years and the congregation can now reap the fruits of the labour of many Muslims who have worked tirelessly in the present and previous committees.

That brings me to the next point and that is the question of expense. The MMB has sent out letters of appeal requesting funds for the furniture and fitting out works. The project cost inclusive of architects' and engineers' fees is about $880,000. The MMB has been actively raising funds over the last year. We have received much help both financial and otherwise from Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura who have given support to the concept of the exchange right from the outset. However, there is still a shortfall of nearly $200,000 and I appeal to all those of you who have not made a contribution yet to send us a donation for any amount within your means. As they say, "many drops of water make an ocean". So it is the act of your support that counts more than the amount donated. I also wish to thank all those who have donated monies and paid for fittings.

Furthermore, it would not be out of place to mention the close co- operation and support MMB has received from UOB especially to the Chairman of the Bank, Mr Wee Cho Yaw and their Senior Vice-President Mr Ling Swee Chan.