Singapore Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society

Singapore Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society’s history spans over 80 years. K T Hameed was its first President, and P M S Maideen, its first Secretary.

Tamil Muslims from the Tenkasi town in Tamil Nadu, India, had been migrating in groups to Singapore from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. They shared strong social, cultural, and religious ties with Tamil Muslims from the nearby town of Kadayanallur (See Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League). The two communities together established the Muslim Improvement Club (MIC) in 1926 to address issues of community solidarity, children’s education, and religious and social practices. However, in 1940, after the Tenkasi community had grown to about 50 families, its members decided to form a separate organisation - the (TMBS) - with 57 founding members.

As a non-profit social entity, TMBS focused on unifying the Tenkasi community, providing financial assistance for funeral and religious services, and offering guidance to members and their families on Islamic principles and practices. It also conducted educational classes in subjects including Tamil, Arabic, English, and mathematics. It maintained a modest library at the Society's premises, which also served as a meeting place and social hub for the community's members.

TMBS was renamed in 1960 as Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society, and in 1974, it adopted its current name, the Singapore Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society (STMWS). Today, STMWS extends its services to the less fortunate from other communities, regardless of race, language or religion. Since 1999, it has been operating the Waterfalls Student Care Centre. Currently, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Muslims, it conducts madrasa classes, enrichment programmes, Meelathu celebrations, Eid Festivals, family gatherings, and youth conferences.



For more information
Singapore Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society: Meelath celebration souvenir magazine. Singapore: Singapore Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society and National Library Board Singapore, 1996. 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.