Singapore's longest-serving mufti Sheikh Syed Isa Semait dies at 87

Islamic leader helped set up many key institutions of the Muslim community here

- Zhaki Abdullah

Sheikh Syed Isa Semait, Singapore's longest-serving mufti, died on July 7 at the age of 87.

The Republic's second mufti, he served in the role for almost four decades, beginning in 1972, when he took over the role from former Syariah Court president Sanusi Mahmood.

In 2011, he was succeeded by Dr Fatris Bakaram, who served as mufti until 2020.

The mufti is Singapore's highest Islamic authority, overseeing key religious rulings for Muslims here.

Sheikh Syed Isa's funeral prayer, held at the Sultan Mosque, was led by Habib Hassan Al-Attas, the imam of Ba'alwie Mosque.

Among those who visited Sultan Mosque to pay their last respects were Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

In posts on his social media accounts, PM Wong described Sheikh Syed Isa as a "tireless champion for social harmony", noting he was a life member and former president of the Inter-Religious Organisation, and had served on both the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights.

"He actively promoted inter-faith engagement, and worked to build cohesion and trust among Singaporeans of all races and religions," he said.

"He was a pillar not just of the Singapore Muslim community but also of our nation. His legacy will live on through the many generations of religious teachers, scholars and Singaporeans whose lives he mentored and touched," PM Wong said.

Speaking to the media at the mosque, SM Lee described Sheikh Syed Isa as a "great Singaporean" who had played many roles over the years.

SM Lee said he first met Sheikh Syed Isa in 1988, when the former mufti discussed the issue of group representation constituencies when the proposal to create these GRCs to ensure minority representation in Parliament was being deliberated — with a Select Committee that Mr Lee sat on.