Two new mosques to be built in Tengah and Tampines North to support Muslim community needs

A new mosque will be built in Tengah, while the construction of another mosque in Tampines North, which was put on hold during the pandemic, is set to resume in 2027.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced these developments on 4 March while attending a Ramadan event at Masjid Al-Istighfar in Pasir Ris.

Addressing an audience of 1,000 congregants and guests, PM Wong reaffirmed the Government’s secular approach in treating all faiths equally, while recognising the positive role religion plays in society.

He emphasised that development planning includes religious facilities such as mosques to cater to the needs of various communities.

“As Singaporeans, we may have different faiths, but we live harmoniously together,” he said. “We celebrate each other’s festivals and traditions, and this is something rare and precious, which we must cherish and protect.”

The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) confirmed that it is still working with relevant agencies to identify a suitable site for the Tengah mosque, with further details to be announced later.

Meanwhile, the Tampines North mosque’s construction will restart as the Covid-19 situation has stabilised, and the Muslim population in the area has grown.

Tampines North mosque to ease demand on Darul Ghufran

Plans for a new mosque in Tampines North were first announced in 2015, with a site at Tampines Avenue 10 initially identified in 2016 by then Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Yaacob Ibrahim.

However, Muis stated on 4 March that the mosque will now be located in Tampines North Drive 5, due to changes in road layouts.

The Tampines North area has seen significant residential and industrial development in recent years. Nearby public housing flats were completed in 2019, and multiple industrial projects are ongoing.

Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli explained that construction had not resumed earlier as the industry faced post-pandemic challenges, with escalating costs requiring the Government to prioritise certain projects.

“We are very happy that, with coordination from the Government, the Prime Minister has agreed that we should now proceed with the building of the mosque in Tampines North,” he said.

The new mosque aims to alleviate pressure on Darul Ghufran Mosque, currently the only mosque in Tampines.

Located next to Our Tampines Hub, it accommodates up to 5,500 worshippers but requires multiple prayer sessions on Fridays and during Hari Raya due to high demand.

Tampines is among the estates with the highest percentage of Malay-Muslims, and with new flats emerging in Tampines North and South, more prayer spaces are needed, Masagos said.

Funding and mosque development in Singapore

All working Muslims in Singapore, including permanent residents and foreign workers, contribute to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF), established in 1975 to support mosque construction in new towns. Since 2009, the fund has also been used for mosque renovations, expansion of prayer spaces, and accessibility upgrades.

Currently, 26 of the 70 mosques administered by Muis have been built using this fund, and 24 mosques have been upgraded under the Mosque Upgrading Programme (MUP).

The construction of the Tampines North mosque was put on hold in 2021 when Muis decided to prioritise upgrading existing mosques. At the time, Masagos stated that this decision ensured prudent spending, given the economic recovery period after the Covid-19 crisis.

Previous parliamentary discussions on a Tengah mosque

The announcement of a mosque in Tengah follows a parliamentary question raised in November 2024 by Progress Singapore Party Non-constituency Member of the Parliament Leong Mun Wai.

He had asked about plans for a mosque in Tengah New Town, its location, and estimated completion.

• whether there are any plans for a mosque to be built in Tengah New Town;


• if not, why not;


• if so, where is the planned location of the mosque; and (d) when will the mosque be completed.

In response, Masagos stated that Muis centrally coordinates mosque developments based on demographic changes and estate planning.

He noted that MBMF funds have been used for mosque construction in newer estates like Sengkang and Punggol, as well as to rejuvenate mosques in mature estates such as Jurong and Woodlands.

“Muis will be prudent in applying MBMF to support the various religious needs of the community,” he said, adding that the council will continue working with agencies to assess the necessity of new mosques or rejuvenation of existing ones.

Strengthening religious harmony in Singapore

With the new mosques, the total number of mosques in Singapore will increase to 72, with 19 in the east, 20 in the central region, 16 in the north, and 17 in the west.

PM Wong highlighted that mosques play a vital role beyond religious functions, serving as community spaces that foster good character and values. He encouraged Singaporeans to use their faith to strengthen multiracial and multi-religious harmony.

“This is the spirit that will enable us to go far, especially this year as we mark SG60,” he said, referring to Singapore’s diamond jubilee. “This is how we will build a better future together for the next 60 years and beyond.”