Due to its location, and the prime land it sits upon, Masjid Omar Salmah has been frequently threatened with demolition. The mosque’s land is still owned by the government, it was not bought by the Arab trader who erected the mosque, meaning that the government could seize the land at any moment, although there are currently no plans to develop the land.
The first time the threat came, it was stalled due to the fact that the mosque in Bishan, was not yet built. The second time, the mosque in Toa Payoh was under renovation, and demolition was once again stalled, extending the mosque’s life. Now, the land has to be renewed every year for the mosque to continue running.
The plan by MUIS is to have a common mosque for people in one area for prayers and other events. While it is a good move on their part, it also means the demolitions of mosques such as Masjid Omar Salmah.
This is why the mosque is kept clean and safe, so that less-than-honorable youths and extremists will not use it for unsavory business and taint the Mosque’s true purpose. If not, the government might choose to shut down the mosque.
Due to the seclusion of the mosque and the lack of a signboard, the mosque relies on its regulars to keep it alive. Without them, the mosque would not truly ‘live’, giving reason for its closure.
Perhaps if the mosque had a signboard, more people would begin to come. As it is, no one is certain how long the mosque will last.
~Azaleah~
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the following people, who all helped us in one way or another. We would like to thank Azaleah’s family, specifically her Grandfather, Haji Said San Alwi and her Uncles, the Mosque Chairman, Encik Aziz, the Mosque Patron, Encik Syukur, Azaleah’s parents, Hana’s parents and the Singapore Memory Project, for giving us this opportunity.
http://faithunforgotten.blogspot.sg/
