Muslim congregation remembers Mr Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE — A special mention was made on the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s life and his contributions to the Malay-Muslim community following the Friday afternoon prayers at the Muhajirin Mosque in Toa Payoh today (March 27).

In his Friday sermon, Uztaz Irwan Hadi Md Shuhaimy, who had earlier led the prayers, said the founding Prime Minister had played a pivotal role in Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious society, and had touched the hearts of many members of the community.

“At the international level, he (Mr Lee) led a team of leaders who worked with him to develop Singapore to become a prosperous country that is envied by many.

“This was achieved, among others, through the harmonious relationship between people of different races, economic development and an excellent education system,” Uztaz Irwan Hadi said in Malay.

He then urged the congregation to reflect on Mr Lee’s life and learn from it, and in doing so, ponder on their own individual contributions to society.

Mr Hamri Hunar, 76, who was at the mosque for the Friday prayers, said the sermon reminded him of the many things that Mr Lee had done for the Muslim community.

Mr Hamri, who is also the vice-chairman of the Muhajirin Mosque management board, said he remembers a time when he had to go from door to door to collect money to build a mosque here.

“We took about seven years to raise S$700,000. Then, Mr Lee introduced the Mosque Building Fund in 1975, and within a year we could build this very mosque (the Muhajirin Mosque) using top-ups from the fund. At that time, it cost less than S$1million to build a mosque.

“We will do well to learn from Mr Lee and preserve what he has done, and give back to society,” Mr Hamri told reporters in Malay.

The Mosque Building Fund, which was expanded to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund in 1984, is a fund collected for the purpose of mosque building, religious education and the development of the Muslim community. A bulk of the fund is used for the building and upgrading of mosques.

Since its inception in 1975, 23 new mosques have been built with the fund, and another three are expected to be completed in the next two years. The new mosques will be located in Jurong West, Woodlands and Tampines North.

Mr Iskandar Kastar, 93, who serves as a muezzin (someone who performs the call to prayer) at the Muhajirin Mosque, said Mr Lee once invited him to his house at Oxley Road.

He could not remember when the visit took place, but added: “I was the head of a nearby kampung at the time, and Mr Lee invited some of us (to his home) for a chat. He was a very nice and friendly man --- spoke Bahasa well - even though many people were scared of him due to his stern demeanour. He helped improve the lives of the poor.”

Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, who was also at the mosque for the Friday prayers, said the sermon was a “nice closure” to the week’s sombre events.

“It is not just a message for the Muslim community, but for everyone in Singapore. Mr Lee and other pioneers have done a lot for our country. The question is: What can we do to emulate (them) and continue their legacy in years to come?”

Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs, said the Malay-Muslim community “owed a great debt” to Mr Lee.

“He was always very concerned about what is happening with the Malay-Muslim community, constantly trying to understand us better. He would ask: ‘What more can be done?’ ” Dr Yaacob told reporters.