Under the bright lights of D’Marquee on September 12, the air hummed with nostalgic chatter and warm reunions as generations of Singapore’s Kadayanallur Muslim community gathered under one roof to celebrate its rich 85-year history.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
He extended his congratulations to the Kadayanallur Muslim League, which helped unite Tamils who migrated from Kadayanallur to Singapore.
“If you sow good seeds, you will reap a bountiful harvest. In this way, this organisation has sowed many good seeds through education, self-help, and service to support the community,” he said.
He also added that while people in Singapore generally live in strong racial harmony, incidents involving racial differences have been increasing in recent times, making it essential to continually strengthen the bonds and trust that keep our society strong.
“While the government continues to address challenges such as the cost of living and employment through various initiatives, it is equally crucial for people to strengthen bonds across different communities,” he emphasised.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai, and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash also attended the event.
SKML President Raj Mohamed pledged that the organisation will continue to support initiatives such as INEI and M3 Plus.
“The organisation will always strive to provide assistance in key areas such as education and eldercare,” he said.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Naseer Ghani, chairman of the Tamil Language Council.
The Prime Minister noted that Mr. Naseer Ghani has served the community for over 40 years as an educator and through various organisations, including the SKML, SINDA, and MUIS.
The Prime Minister added that leaders like him are crucial to fostering bonds within the community.
The SKML ‘Ascend’ Education Fund was also launched at the event.
The organisation stated that the fund, valued at $250,000, will support students pursuing higher education at tertiary institutions.
History of SKML
Founded in 1941 by A N Maideen, SKML was established to support, unite, and uplift the social, educational, and economic well-being of Kadayanallur Muslim immigrants in Singapore.
These early pioneers migrated to Singapore from Tamil Nadu in the early 20th century and settled primarily around Tanjong Pagar and Keppel Harbour, working tough, long hours as dock workers, peons, and clerks.
SKML’s early community leaders led tireless fundraising efforts to establish the Umar Pulavar Tamil High School (current Umar Pulavar Tamil Language Centre). The school provided access to Tamil education up to the Senior Cambridge level, serving as a key pathway out of poverty and training future Tamil teachers.
Masjid Jamae Chulia served as the spiritual and social center for the community, with several early Imams coming directly from the Kadayanallur community.
Many families showed strong entrepreneurial spirit; women sold ground spices in wet markets to supplement household income, while notable community figures built successful provision, wholesale rice, and magazine distribution businesses.
SKML has transformed from a clan-based social group into a modern community organisation. Today, its members actively participate in grassroots organisations, interfaith Racial and Religious Harmony Circles, and partner with national bodies (such as MUIS, Mendaki, SINDA, and the Tamil Language Council) to promote social cohesion and preserve Tamil language and culture.
