Aljunied
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 Aljunied highlighted in red |
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| English | Aljunied |
| Chinese | 阿裕尼 |
| (Pinyin | āyùní) |
| Malay | Aljunied |
| Tamil | அல்ஜூனிட் |
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 of a variety of landuses. Today, Aljunied is a bustling neighbourhood with HDB flats with amenities like shops, schools, parks and recreational facilities.
[edit] Etymology
Aljunied Road was officially named in 1926 after either Syed Omar bin Ali Al Junied (died 1852) or his family members.
Syed Omar was not only a wealthy Arab merchant from Palembang, he was also a highly respected man, looked upon by the Malays as a prince and considered a descendant of Prophet Mohammed, the founder of Islam. He was a nephew of Syed Mohammed bin Harun Al Junied, who came from Palembang in the very early days after 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.
In 1927, one of his descendants, Syed Abdul Rahman, erected the Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah on vacant ground next to the Victoria Road cemetery in commemoration of Syed Omar.
[edit] Politics
The area has a constituency, the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (Aljunied GRC). with five members of parliament (MPs) sitting in the Parliament of Singapore. Aljunied GRC was hotly contested in the 2006 general election.
[edit] References
- Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 981-210-205-1
- http://www.ajtc.org.sg (Aljunied Town Council)
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