Aljunied
Encyclopedia
Aljunied is a sub-urban area located in the eastern part of the city-state
of Singapore
. Named after Aljunied Road, it was formally agricultural land which has since been heavily urbanised and presently comprises a variety of landuses. Today, Aljunied is a bustling neighbourhood with HDB flat
s with amenities like shops, schools, parks and recreational facilities.
Syed Omar was a wealthy Arab
merchant
from Palembang
, where he had set up business after migrating from his hometown in Tarim, Hadramaut (Yemen). He was also a highly respected man, looked upon by the Malays as a prince
. Syed Omar came from the well-respected Arab family who were descendants
of Islamic prophet Muhammad
. He was a nephew of Syed Mohammed bin Harun Al Junied, who also came from Palembang
to Singapore in the early days before the founding of Singapore
in 1819.
Syed Omar was a philanthropist
and his charitable acts included donating a large plot of land in Victoria Street
for the purposes of a Muslim burial ground
and the construction of a mosque
in Bencoolen Street. The land where St Andrews Church (see St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
) stands was also donated by him. He and his family contributed largely to the setting up of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
In 1927, one of his descendants, Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied, built the Madrasah
Aljunied Al-Islamiah on a vacant ground next to the Victoria Road cemetery
in commemoration of his grandfather, Syed Omar. Madrsah Aljunied was a leading Islamic religious school which produced many religious leaders of Southeast Asian countries.
, the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
(Aljunied GRC). with five members of parliament
(MPs) sitting in the Parliament of Singapore
. Aljunied GRC was won by the Worker's Party in Singapore General Elections 2011.
City-state
A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Named after Aljunied Road, it was formally agricultural land which has since been heavily urbanised and presently comprises a variety of landuses. Today, Aljunied is a bustling neighbourhood with HDB flat
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s with amenities like shops, schools, parks and recreational facilities.
Etymology
Aljunied Road was officially named in 1926 after Syed Omar bin Ali Al Junied (died 1852).Syed Omar was a wealthy Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
from Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
, where he had set up business after migrating from his hometown in Tarim, Hadramaut (Yemen). He was also a highly respected man, looked upon by the Malays as a prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
. Syed Omar came from the well-respected Arab family who were descendants
Kinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
of Islamic prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
. He was a nephew of Syed Mohammed bin Harun Al Junied, who also came from Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
to Singapore in the early days before the founding of Singapore
Founding of modern Singapore
The founding of modern Singapore in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles paved the way for Singapore to become a modern port and established its status as a gateway between the Western and Eastern markets....
in 1819.
Syed Omar was a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and his charitable acts included donating a large plot of land in Victoria Street
Victoria Street, Singapore
Victoria Street [Tamil]: விக்டோரியா ஸ்திரீட் is a street located in the Central Area of Singapore. The street starts at Victoria Bridge at the end of Kallang Road, after the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority building, in the north and continues as Hill Street at its junction with Stamford Road...
for the purposes of a Muslim burial ground
Burial Ground
Burial Ground is the ninth studio album by Swedish death metal band Grave, released in June 2010.-Track listing:# "Liberation" - 3:40# "Semblance In Black" - 7:50# "Dismembered Mind" - 6:10# "Ridden With Belief" - 7:57# "Conquerer" - 4:44...
and the construction of a mosque
Masjid Al-Junied
Masjid Al-Junied is a mosque in Singapore. It is located along Bencoolen Street. Famous figures such as Ngah Ibrahim, former chief minister of Perak, Malaysia, who built the Kota Ngah Ibrahim was buried here upon his death. On 7 September 2006, his body was brought back to Perak and reburied near...
in Bencoolen Street. The land where St Andrews Church (see St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
Saint Andrew's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Singapore, the country's largest cathedral. It is located near City Hall MRT Interchange in the Downtown Core, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district. It is the Cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore and...
) stands was also donated by him. He and his family contributed largely to the setting up of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
In 1927, one of his descendants, Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied, built the Madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
Aljunied Al-Islamiah on a vacant ground next to the Victoria Road cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
in commemoration of his grandfather, Syed Omar. Madrsah Aljunied was a leading Islamic religious school which produced many religious leaders of Southeast Asian countries.
Politics
The area has a constituencyConstituencies of Singapore
Constituencies in Singapore are electoral divisions which may be represented by single or multiple seats in the Parliament of Singapore. Constituencies are classified as either single member or group representation constituencies...
, the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency
Aljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
(Aljunied GRC). with five members of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MPs) sitting in the Parliament of Singapore
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
. Aljunied GRC was won by the Worker's Party in Singapore General Elections 2011.