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Shaikh Yahya bin Ahmed Afifi

Shaikh Yahya bin Ahmed Afifi   (b. 1891, Mecca - d. 1940, July 12, Singapore) was a Municipal Commissioner representing the Singapore Ratepayers' Association. He was also made Justice of Peace for his active involvement in the Arab community.

Early Life
Afifi's father was of Turkish descent and had held a senior post in the government in Mecca.  Brought to Singapore at the age of six, Afifi studied at Kampong Glam Malay School and the Raffles Institution. His early education was bilingual, and his knowledge of English put him in good stead for his future role in representing the community.

Accomplishments
Afifi helped raise funds to support the British for World War I, even though he was not a British subject. For such loyalty, he was highly esteemed by the British authorities in Singapore and made a British subject in 1928.

He was active in the local Muslim community, serving as President of the Persenangan Stia Club for many years.  He also established the Muslim Students' Aid Society in 1925 with the goal to assist in providing education to impoverished Muslim children. In 1932, he helped solicit funding from the Alkaff family for a mosque to be built at Bidadari. The land and the new mosque costing about $40,000 was paid for by Syed Abdulrahman bin Shaikh Alkaff. In 1932, he was made a Justice of Peace for his contributions in public service.

In 1912, he was employed by the highly-regarded real estate company, Alkaff and Company. Beginning as an assistant, he rose through the ranks to become general manager by 1932. He was later appointed as one of four attorneys representing the company's proprietors. He was known to work long hours, of up to 14 hours daily. 

The Singapore Ratepayers' Association nominated him as Municipal Commissioner in 1932 when the previous nominee was expelled for not carrying out the instruction of the Association's committee.  After the death of Municipal Commissioner, Mahomed Alsagoff, the local Arab community sought to find another representative and the government noted that Afifi could take on the role. During his term as Municipal Commissioner, Afifi opposed the monopoly of transport and sought to have the order for the demolition of houses along Malay Street rescinded. He was known to have a forceful character although he was also courteous and affable.

His home was at Race Course Road.

Timeline
1912 : Joined the company, Alkaff and Company.
1924 : Left for pilgrimage to Mecca in March.
1925 : Helped establish the Muslim Students' Aid Society
1928 : Took the oath of allegiance as a British subject (naturalised as a British subject) in February.
1932 : Appointed Municipal Commissioner as representative of the Singapore Ratepayers' Association. He was also vice-president of
          the Association.
1932 : Took his oath as Justice of Peace before G. C. Dodd, District Judge on 8 June.
1940 : Appointed trustee of the Singapore Improvement Trust.

Other appointments
President, Arab Association
President, Persenangan Stia Club
Vice-President, Clerical Union
Vice-President, Muslim Association
Director, Europe Hotel
General Manager, Alkaff and Company.
Charter Member, Singapore Rotary Club
Member, Association of British Malaya
Member, Straits Settlements (Singapore) Association



Author
Bonny Tan



References
Commissioner Afifi. (1939, June 28) [Microfilm NL4158] . The Straits Times, p. 17.

Funeral of Shaikh Yahya Afifi. (1940, July 15) [Microfilm NL4161] . The Straits Times, p. 8.

Mainly about Malayans. (1932, June 19) [Microfilm NL1449]. The Straits Times, p. 4.

Mr. Yahya Afifi honoured. (1932, June 16) [Microfilm NL1449]. The Straits Times, p. 12.

New mosque. (1932, June 27) [Microfilm NL1449]. The Straits Times, p. 16.

Ratepayers' control over Commission nominee. (1936, December 11) [Microfilm NL1518]. The Straits Times, p. 13.

Shaikh Afifi dead. (1940, July 13) [Microfilm NL4161]. The Straits Times, p. 10.

Social and personal. (1928, February 17)[Microfilm NL563]. The Straits Times, p. 8.

Town and country. (1928, February 17) [Microfilm NL563]. . The Straits Times, p. 10.

Untitled. (1924, March 26) [Microfilm NL516]. The Straits Times, p. 8.

Untitled. (1932, June 9) [Microfilm NL1449]. The Straits Times, p. 12


The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic. 

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Community Leaders
Ethnic Communities
Shaikh Yahya Ahmed Afifi, 1891-1940
Civic leaders--Singapore--Biography
People and communities>>Social groups and communities



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