Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery
Historic cemetery in the East Region, Singapore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery (Jawi: مقبرة بوسارا أمان الإسلامية) sometimes known simply as Pusara Aman, is a cemetery situated along the Jalan Bahar road within Lim Chu Kang, Singapore. It is the only Muslim cemetery that is still in use as of today. The cemetery is part of a larger funerary complex, the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery.
| Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery | |
|---|---|
مقبرة بوسارا أمان الإسلامية | |
One of the burial plots, S-1-1, in the Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery as seen from Cemetery South Street 3. | |
.svg)  Shown within Singapore | |
| General information | |
| Type | cemetery |
| Location | 11 Lim Chu Kang Rd, Singapore 719452, Singapore |
| Coordinates | 1.3725207°N 103.6945381°E |
Etymology
History
Intended to replace the Bidadari Cemetery that was being cleared for urbanization, the Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery was officially opened in 1974, although there had been earlier burials at the site along Jalan Bahar road prior to that year.[4] The Ministry of Health had also ordered the construction of a mosque to serve the congregants at the cemetery, which was completed two years earlier in 1972 and later served as a funeral parlour.[5][6][7] Due to a lack of space, the Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery was temporarily closed for burials in 1995, with a new extension being developed and at least 10,000 bodies being moved to this new extension.[8][9] The cemetery was reopened for burials after this new extension was completed, although it was met with some criticism during its initial opening due to the general public finding it difficult to navigate.[10] Part of the cemetery was exhumed in 2020 to make way for an expansion of the nearby Tengah Air Base; at least 35,000 graves were affected.[11]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the cemetery was closed to public visiting.[12] Funerals and subsequent burials continued to be held during the pandemic, but with extensive supervision and safety measures taken.[12] After the pandemic, the cemetery resumed its regular operations, with noticeable increase in community and volunteer activities from youths at its mosque.[13]
The cemetery is the only functional Muslim cemetery in Singapore.[13][14] It is currently located on Temporary Occupation License (TOL) land, with the cemetery's management working with relevant services to preserve it and its mosque with funeral parlour.[6]
Funeral parlour
Masjid Pusara Aman
The cemetery's main funeral parlour is Masjid Pusara Aman, a small mosque built in 1972 under orders of the National Environment Agency. Within the mosque, regular funerary services like washing the dead and preparing the body for burial are performed.[5]
Notable burials
- Zubir Said, the composer of Singapore's national anthem[15]
- Othman Wok, former Minister of Social Affairs from 1963–1977 and later Singaporean ambassador to Indonesia
- At least two or three Sufi Muslim mystics of unknown name; whose remains were exhumed from their mausoleums that were demolished for urbanisation and reinterred in Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery[16]
Accessibility
Bus services 172 and 405 lead to the cemetery's mosque and funeral parlour.[17]
Gallery
One of the burial plots in the cemetery, labelled S-1-1.
A closeup shot of a grave in burial plot S-1-1.
The grave of Othman Wok inside plot S-1-1.
More graves in the cemetery.
A flight of stairs leading to an elevated burial plot at the cemetery.
The cemetery's main mosque which also contains the funeral parlour.
