Contributions of Syed Omar bin Ali Aljunied

Apart from his succesful trading business in Singapore, Syed Omar was one of the first religious leaders and a philantropist. He donated land for religious buildings to be built on, such as St Andrew's Cathedral and the Masjid Kampong Melaka (a.k.a Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka or Malacca Mosque) in Chinatown. He had commissioned the building of the mosque for the Malay fishermen, Bugis merchants and Malaccan businessmen who engaged in trade with the Chinese in Chinatown. The mosque was the first place of worship constructed in Singapore.

In 1981 to 1982, after almost a hundred years of use, the original structure of a temporary timber building, was demolished and reconstructed into a brick mosque that had a tall minaret with a small roof dome which was added at the entrance of the mosque. This reconstruction coincided with the laying of a new road through Kampong Malacca which brought worshippers from the surrounding area. Today, the mosque is in much the same state as it was after the last reconstruction — a simple building that is well complemented by its surrounding space. With a sitting capacity of about 1,000 people, it is the focal point for office workers during daily and Friday prayers.

Mr. Syed Omar did too donated a large burial ground at Jalan Kubor off Victoria Street and built another mosque in Bencoolen Street. Large wells with granite sides were also dug behind Fort Canning, Selegie Road, Pungulu Kisang and Telok Ayer with the rest of the Aljunieds to supply water to the early residents of Singapore.

He contributed land for the construction of Mr Tan Tock Seng's Pauper's Hospital which later became Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

I would catergorise his contributions as socio-economic impact. The reason why I catergorise his contributions under socio-economic impact is because firstly, he contributed lands for the constructions of mosques and Mr Tan Tock Seng's Pauper's Hospital. These were for the benefits of not just the Malay immigrants, but for the entire society. If he did not contribute the land for the construction of Mr Tan Tock Seng's Pauper's Hospital, those poor people who are sick would never be able to seek medical treatment and cure their sickness.

His trading business also helped to attract more people to come to Singapore to trade and stimulated the economy of Singapore.

Brief introduction of Syed Omar bin Ali Aljunied

Syed Omar, borned in the year 1752 in Hadramaut,was a wealthy Arab merchant from Palembang. He was a well-respected man who was looked upon by the Malays as a prince. He came from the well-respected Arab family who were descendants of Islamic prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. He was well-known as a leader of the Arabs in the Malay Sultanate in the East, an upright and honourable man.

He came to Singapore from Palembang in the year 1819 when his uncle, Syed Mohammed set up a business in Singapore and followed his uncle in setting up their business in Singapore.

He was the patriarch of the Aljunieds in Singapore, a noted Arab spice trader and businessman, philanthropist and important leader of the early Arab community.

He died in 9 November 1852.