Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque | A historic mosque newly restored
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| The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque |
The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque was one of the stately mosques completed during the reign of His Highness Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Musa GCMG KCVO and inaugurated by him. The Sultan Sulaiman Royal Mosque in Klang and The Sultan Abdul Samad Jamek Mosque in Kuala Lumpur were also completed during his rule and both were officially opened by him.
One of the reasons many mosques were built during the Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah's rule was His Highness the Sultan was known to be very faithful to this religion, Islam, and he maintained close relationship with many Islamic scholars. His Highness was also said to have frequently consulted Islamic scholars about the administrative matters and spreading of Islam.
The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque, also known as Alauddin Mosque or Bandar Mosque, is situated approximately 200m from the Istana Bandar (Bandar Palace), the residence of Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, the fifth Sultan of Selangor. Istana Bandar and Sultan Alaeddin Mosque are located in Kampung Bandar, Jugra, Kuala Langat, Selangor. Jugra used to enjoy the royal town status until Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah decided to move the Royal Administrative Centre to the Mahkota Puri Palace in Klang.
This has been maintained by the succeeding Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah when he decided to demolish the Mahkota Puri Palace and replace it with the present Alam Shah Palace.
One of the reasons many mosques were built during the Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah's rule was His Highness the Sultan was known to be very faithful to this religion, Islam, and he maintained close relationship with many Islamic scholars. His Highness was also said to have frequently consulted Islamic scholars about the administrative matters and spreading of Islam.
The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque, also known as Alauddin Mosque or Bandar Mosque, is situated approximately 200m from the Istana Bandar (Bandar Palace), the residence of Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, the fifth Sultan of Selangor. Istana Bandar and Sultan Alaeddin Mosque are located in Kampung Bandar, Jugra, Kuala Langat, Selangor. Jugra used to enjoy the royal town status until Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah decided to move the Royal Administrative Centre to the Mahkota Puri Palace in Klang.
This has been maintained by the succeeding Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah when he decided to demolish the Mahkota Puri Palace and replace it with the present Alam Shah Palace.
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| The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque |
The Malay Tribune dated 8 May 1925 (Friday) reported "H.H. the Sultan of Selangor has issued invitations for Saturday (9 May, 1925), to the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone of the Bandar Mosque".
About one year later, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser dated 2 July 1926 on page 11 titled "New Mosque at Bandar" reported on the grand opening ceremony of a new mosque, the "Alahuddin Mosque" in Bandar, Kuala Langat, inaugurated by His Highness Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, the Sultan of Selangor, on 18 June, 1926.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Sultan of Perak, Raja Muda of Selangor, the British Resident of Selangor and other distinguished guests as well as a large number of local people from inside and outside Selangor. It was indeed a grand ceremony befitting the grand and stately mosque that had just been completed.
As a conclusion, referring to the news reports above, the construction of this stately mosque started on 9 May 1925 and it was opened officially on 18 June, 1926.
This is contrary to the Wikipedia entry which wrongly states the mosque was constructed between 1903 and 1905, and was officially opened in 1906 by Almarhum Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor. (No citation is provided).
The mosque has undergone major restoration work and has been given a new coat of paint, all white in colour compared to its original yellow paint.
According to the architect responsible for the restoration work on this mosque, Arkitek Punca Cipta, the architecture of the mosque was designed by Tengku Hitam and modelled after the Muhammadi Mosque of Kota Bharu while the construction work was supervised by PWD on the request of the Sultan. The restoration project commenced in 2016 and was completed last year, 2018.
This magnificent mosque is a fine surviving example of early brick building in Malaya. Studies done during the restoration also revealed many interesting advances of the day namely the use of ferro-cement technique and portland cement for the domes, brick buttress structures and marseilles roof tiles.
The mosque was designed by one Tengku Hitam and modelled after the Masjid Muhammadi in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, while the work was supervised by Public Works Department on the request of the Sultan of Selangor. This is also opposed to what is stated in Wikipedia entry that "The architectural style of the mosque is influenced by design elements from the Sultanate of Deli Kingdom from North Sumatera, Indonesia." The wrong information provided by Wikipedia was unfortunately quoted by various websites in Malaysia including the official tourism website published by the state government of Selangor.
The mosque was built at the cost of 26,000 Malayan Dollar.
It was adorned by 6 types of domes constructed of ferro cement shell structure on steel girdles – a unique method of construction technique of the day.
The Sultan Alaeddin Mosque has been gazetted as a National Heritage in 2008 under the National Heritage Act 2005.
REFERENCES
Arkitek Punca Cipta. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.puncacipta.com.my/web2019/heritage-and-conservation
New mosque at Bandar. (1926, July 2). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser.
Opening ceremony of Alaiedin's mosque, at Bandar, on 18th June. (1926, July 3). Malayan Saturday Post.
About one year later, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser dated 2 July 1926 on page 11 titled "New Mosque at Bandar" reported on the grand opening ceremony of a new mosque, the "Alahuddin Mosque" in Bandar, Kuala Langat, inaugurated by His Highness Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, the Sultan of Selangor, on 18 June, 1926.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Sultan of Perak, Raja Muda of Selangor, the British Resident of Selangor and other distinguished guests as well as a large number of local people from inside and outside Selangor. It was indeed a grand ceremony befitting the grand and stately mosque that had just been completed.
As a conclusion, referring to the news reports above, the construction of this stately mosque started on 9 May 1925 and it was opened officially on 18 June, 1926.
This is contrary to the Wikipedia entry which wrongly states the mosque was constructed between 1903 and 1905, and was officially opened in 1906 by Almarhum Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor. (No citation is provided).
The mosque has undergone major restoration work and has been given a new coat of paint, all white in colour compared to its original yellow paint.
According to the architect responsible for the restoration work on this mosque, Arkitek Punca Cipta, the architecture of the mosque was designed by Tengku Hitam and modelled after the Muhammadi Mosque of Kota Bharu while the construction work was supervised by PWD on the request of the Sultan. The restoration project commenced in 2016 and was completed last year, 2018.
This magnificent mosque is a fine surviving example of early brick building in Malaya. Studies done during the restoration also revealed many interesting advances of the day namely the use of ferro-cement technique and portland cement for the domes, brick buttress structures and marseilles roof tiles.
The mosque was designed by one Tengku Hitam and modelled after the Masjid Muhammadi in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, while the work was supervised by Public Works Department on the request of the Sultan of Selangor. This is also opposed to what is stated in Wikipedia entry that "The architectural style of the mosque is influenced by design elements from the Sultanate of Deli Kingdom from North Sumatera, Indonesia." The wrong information provided by Wikipedia was unfortunately quoted by various websites in Malaysia including the official tourism website published by the state government of Selangor.
The mosque was built at the cost of 26,000 Malayan Dollar.
It was adorned by 6 types of domes constructed of ferro cement shell structure on steel girdles – a unique method of construction technique of the day.
The Sultan Alaeddin Mosque has been gazetted as a National Heritage in 2008 under the National Heritage Act 2005.
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| The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque |
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| The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque |
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| The Sultan Alaeddin Royal Mosque |
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| Heritage Status Plaque |
REFERENCES
Arkitek Punca Cipta. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.puncacipta.com.my/web2019/heritage-and-conservation
New mosque at Bandar. (1926, July 2). The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser.
Opening ceremony of Alaiedin's mosque, at Bandar, on 18th June. (1926, July 3). Malayan Saturday Post.
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ReplyDeleteAnother postcard view of Istana Mahkota. Pity it was demolished.
Yes, it's a shame it was torn down. It was replaced with the current Alam Shah Palace.
Delete