Person:Omar Aljunied (1)

A direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammed, Syed Sharif Omar al-Junied was among the first Arabs to come to Singapore. He first travelled to the East in with his uncle, Syed Mohammed bin Haroon, who had established himself as a successful spice trader in Palembang, Sumatra. There he was honoured with the title of Pangeran Sharif or "Prince" of the Malays.

Syed Mohammed brought his nephew, Syed Omar to set up business in Singapore in 1819. When Syed Mohammed died in Singapore in February 1824, the business was passed on to Syed Omar, who acted as the guardian of the 9-year-old heir, Syed Ali who was the son of Mohammed bin Haroon Aljunied.

Syed Omar carried on the business under Syed Ali's name and continued to build his late uncle's already massive fortune. Syed Omar bought land at the southwest corner of High Street and North Bridge Road, and this served as both a place of residence and of business. It was later sold to the Seah Eu Chin family.

Syed Omar's nephew, Syed Ali, then moved the Aljunied family home to Balestier Road. The large plot of land between Victoria Street and Rochor Canal was originally an Arab-Muslim burial ground named after Syed Omar who was buried there. His graved had since been moved to the ground at the Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka, the first prayer house or mosque in Singapore which Syed Omar helped built.

1.   Syed Sharif Omar al-Junied
   17.04.1999.

   Syed Sharif Omar al-Junied
   By Michael Mukunthan written on 1999-04-17
   National Library Board Singapore
   http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_847_2004-12-29.html