Sembawang Malay Settlement Mosque

Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang (Jawi: مسجد ڤتمڤتن ملايو سمباوڠ; English: Sembawang Malay Settlement Mosque) is a historic mosque located along Jalan Mempurong in Sembawang, Singapore. Built in 1963, it is considered to be one of the last kampung ("village") type mosques in the country.^[1][2][3]

The name of the mosque, Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang, literally translates to "Sembawang Malay Settlement Mosque." This name hence reflects the origins of the mosque in the northernmost, forested areas of Sembawang, which were mostly populated by Malays.^[2][3][4] The mosque was also formerly known as Masjid Kampong Tengah until the 1970s.^[5]

The mosque was built in 1963 by residents from the Malay villages in the eastern part of Sembawang.^[4][5][6][7] Upon construction, it was merely a wooden prayer hall, akin to a surau, while it was expanded gradually.^[8][9] Funds for the construction were raised by the villagers themselves.^[4][5][6] Meanwhile, the actual construction process had some of the villagers, especially youths, volunteering to build the mosque.^[4] The Lee Foundation also helped to fund the mosque by donating $10,000 to the mosque committee.^[4][8] The mosque mainly served the villagers of the villages in its vicinity, such as Kampung Wak Hassan, until 1980 when most villages in Sembawang were demolished to make way for rapid urbanization plans.^[4][7][10]

In 2007, the mosque was closed down for extensive renovation works.^[11][12] It was reopened a year later, in 2008.^[13] Then in 2021, the mosque was closed down again for two days as it was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.^[14] Operations resumed as per normal after the pandemic had ended. Sembawang Member-of-Parliament, Ong Ye Kung, promised that the mosque would be preserved until the 2030s, in response to worries from the Muslim community that the mosque would be affected by redevelopments in the area.^[7][8]

Masjid Petempatan Melayu Sembawang is built in a traditional Malay architectural style, with one dome and a decorative, non-functional minaret.^[6][9] The mosque compound is not fenced up to allow wildlife such as chickens and other birds to enter the gardened courtyard.^[8] Decorative carvings line the surfaces of the preserved wooden support beam, known as tiang seri, in the centre of the main prayer hall.^[4]

The mosque is significant for the fact that it is one of the few kampung (Malay for "village") type mosques in Singapore, alongside Masjid Omar Salmah, Masjid Hang Jebat and Masjid Al-Firdaus.^[1][2][3][7] It is the only classical mosque in Sembawang, after Masjid Naval Base and Masjid Jumah Sembawang had been demolished in the 2000s and replaced with the modern Masjid Assyafaah.^[15] Due to the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of the area, visitors from the city areas are attracted to pray at the mosque.^[8] The mosque is located on Temporary Occupation License (TOL) land, hence the mosque may be demolished when the license has expired and is not renewed.^[16] In response to worries of demolition, Ong Ye Kung had already promised to make attempts to preserve the mosque until the 2030s.^[7][8]

• The green dome of the mosque.
• The place for worshippers to take their wudhu (ritual ablution)
• Inside the main prayer hall of the mosque.
• The wooden minbar where the khatib will recite the Friday sermon.
• The wooden support pillar in the main prayer hall, also called "tiang seri" in Malay.

There are no nearby bus stops or MRT stations to the mosque, which is located in a secluded area far from civilization.^[2][3][17] The mosque is only accessible via the two roads of Jalan Mempurong and Jalan Selimang, with the mosque being located at their intersection.^[5] There are no landmarks or buildings in the immediate vicinity, other than an old gate that dates back to the colonial era.^[17][18]

• List of mosques in Singapore