$10.3m upgrading for Darussalam Mosque; new Tengah mosque to be built along Forest Drive
Upgrading for the Darussalam Mosque will be conducted over a two-year period.
SINGAPORE – From September, Darussalam Mosque in Clementi will undergo a $10.3 million upgrading, which will enhance accessibility in the 37-year-old place of worship.
Meanwhile, a site for the future mosque serving the new Tengah town has been reserved along Forest Drive.
These developments were announced by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim during a visit to the Darussalam Mosque on July 11.
Speaking to the media after Friday prayers, Associate Professor Faishal said that the Darussalam Mosque is the latest to undergo improvements under the Mosque Upgrading Programme of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
The most recent was the
Darul Makmur Mosque in Yishun , which reopened on Hari Raya Haji in June after a two-year, $15 million renovation.
Upgrading for the Darussalam Mosque will take place over two years.
'During this period, the mosque will remain operational,' said Prof Faishal, who is also Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs.
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He said he had a 'close attachment' to Darussalam Mosque, having previously volunteered there and served on the management board between 2001 and 2005.
'This is a significant milestone for the jemaah (congregation) in Clementi and the surrounding neighbourhoods,' he added.
Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Faishal Ibrahim participating in Friday prayers on July 11.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Located along Commonwealth Avenue West, Darussalam Mosque is known for its distinctive cuboid-like architecture.
It was officially opened in 1988, having been built under the second phase of the Mosque Building Fund.
The upgrading works will include a new two-storey space for the atrium, as well as a lift and a central staircase to improve crowd flow.
The mosque's ventilation systems will also be enhanced, while its facade will be refreshed.
In addition, there will be advanced mechanical and electrical systems that meet the Building and Construction Authority's Green Mark 2021 Super Low Energy Building standards.
The construction will be in two phases, with the first phase involving the main prayer hall.
The second phase will include the annex building, which has an auditorium and other facilities.
The upgrading works will include a new two-storey space for the atrium, as well as a lift and a central staircase to improve crowd flow.
ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
After the upgrading, Darussalam Mosque is expected to have up to 3,300 prayer spaces, up from around 3,000 currently.
As part of fundraising efforts, the mosque will hold religious talks and charity drives, and place donation boxes in various mosques throughout the island.
Details about the fundraising and other key initiatives will be shared at a later date, Muis said.
Meanwhile, design development for the new mosque in Tengah, which has yet to be named, is expected to begin in 2027, said Prof Faishal, describing it as an 'exciting chapter' for Muslim residents in the area.
'I look forward to the support from the community as we shape this new mosque together,' he added.
Prof Faishal noted that the development of mosques in Singapore has been made possible because of the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund, which working Muslims contribute to.
'We must plan these projects carefully to ensure their long-term financial sustainability in the midst of rising costs,' he said.
In 2021, it was announced that plans to build new mosques were deferred in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In March, however, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that
a new mosque would be built in Tengah , with Muis working with the relevant agencies to identify a suitable site.
A new mosque in Tampines North, whose construction was suspended during the pandemic, will also see construction resume in 2027, PM Wong said then.
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