SKML Story
Empowering Community | Building The Future
Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League (SKML)
From humble beginnings in 1941 to a thriving community today, SKML continues to preserve culture, promote education, and empower members for generations to come.
Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League (SKML)
OUR JOURNEY
SKML’s First Gen Secretary Mr. A N Maideen is seated on the first row 3rd from left.
Founding SKML
The history of SKML dates back to the late 19th century when a group of pioneering leaders actively participated in the establishment of the Muslim Improvement Club in 1926. This marked the organisation's first concerted effort to secure institutional representation and was a crucial milestone in its journey towards providing a platform for the Indian Muslim community in Singapore.
Unfortunately, the Muslim Improvement Club's eventual demise remains unrecorded or unconfirmed. Veteran community members recount that the gradual erosion of its operational integrity, due to the encroachment of certain cultural practices, led to its downfall. This highlights the importance of maintaining a shared cultural identity while embracing diversity within a community.
In 1941, SKML officially registered its presence, securing its place as a prominent organisation representing the Indian Muslim community in Singapore. The Singapore Tenkasi Muslim Welfare Society, which was established a year earlier in 1940, also attained registration during this period. These early years saw the emergence of numerous organisations, each with a distinct character, mirroring the vibrant tapestry of their respective locales.
Unlike the Muslim Improvement Club, which embodied an overarching entity, these organisations incorporated their district, town, or municipality of origin into their organisational identity. This was a reflection of the community's emphasis on strong desire to retain cultural and linguistic identity.
Letter to register Kadayanallur Muslim League as an organisation dated June 1941.
Birth of SKML
In the midst of an ever-changing landscape, Imam Hafiz S.A. Mohamed penned a letter to the Registrar of Societies in June 1941, seeking to register the Kadayanallur Muslim League as an independent entity following the Muslim Improvement Club's (MIC) tenure. The precise dissolution date of the MIC eludes us, but in a cruel twist of fate, World War II commenced a mere two months later, with the Japanese occupation of Singapore commencing in December 1942. Against this backdrop of turmoil, SKML secured its formal approval as an organisation on August 8, 1941—truly, these were trying times indeed.
Within the lines of this letter lie compelling insights. The author astutely acknowledges that our connection to Singapore stretches far beyond the present moment. He cites the presence of 400 Kadayanallur Muslims who settled in Singapore over six decades prior, immersing themselves in its rich tapestry since the 1880s. This enduring association, deeply etched in history, resonates with the registrar who, approving our inauguration on August 8, 1941.
Current signage at Maxwell Road vicinity
Tamil Murasu Article dated 18th July 1952.
Our Landmark in CBD
In the tapestry of our collective memory, Kadayanallur Street stands as a significant landmark, particularly cherished by the Indian Muslim community. Its name carries a profound tale, interwoven with the lives and events that unfolded within its vicinity. Nestled in the heart of Singapore's bustling Central Business District, the revered Tanjong Pagar District, this street resonates with historical significance.
At the helm of this narrative, we find the indomitable Kadayanallur Muslim League, its office was at no. 72 Tanjong Pagar. The visionary hand of its first General Secretary, Mr. A.N. Maideen, played a pivotal role in bringing forth the Umar Pulavar Tamil School, an educational institution that would later evolve into the esteemed Umar Pulavar Tamil High School—its noble purpose etched into the fabric of Maxwell Road.
It was from the hallowed ground of May 1952 onward that Kadayanallur Street materialized, embracing its rightful place in Singapore's urban tapestry. Within its name, the echoes of a community's journey and the legacy of a cherished institution continue to reverberate, forever etching their mark upon the vibrant streetscape of our beloved city.
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