Penang: In an effort to strengthen the role of mosques as centres of worship, knowledge, and Islamic tourism, Masjid Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi, formerly known as the Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque here, has been declared Penang's State Tourism Mosque.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid stated that the declaration was an initiative to elevate the role of mosques as places of worship, education, and dakwah, as well as tourist attractions showcasing the beauty of Islamic architecture and the state's cultural and heritage values. Mohamad, who also serves as the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) president, emphasized that the rebranding of the mosque is not merely about giving it a new identity but also highlighting the legacy of Islamic reformist figure Syed Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hadi as part of the state's intellectual heritage tourism products.
The mosque originally served as a community mosque to meet the needs of the local community before being upgraded as the Northeast District Mosque on December 10, 2021, thus strengthening its role as a centre for administration, dakwah, education, and the development of the ummah. The MAINPP meeting on July 14, 20205, agreed to restructure the roles and functions of two main mosques, namely the Floating Mosque and Masjid Habib in the Northeast district, to ensure mosque management is more focused, professional, and efficient in addressing the needs of the community and visitors.
The declaration ceremony was officiated by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, and was also attended by State Secretary Datuk Dr Jafri Abdul Jalil and Penang Mufti Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Sukki Othman. Mohamad highlighted that the Tanjung Bungah Floating Mosque has been designated as Penang's State Tourism Mosque, while Masjid Habib would serve as the Northeast District Mosque, considering the strategic location of Masjid Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi, which receives a high number of visitors throughout the year, including domestic and international tourists.
He noted that the choice of the name Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi carries significant historical and intellectual value, as he was born in Melaka in 1867 and was among the most influential Islamic reformist figures in Malaya in the early 20th century. Besides being a modern Islamic thinker, Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi also made Penang a centre for the Islamic-Malay educational reform, publishing, and intellectual movement in the early 20th century.
The Al-Hadi Centre, established in 2022 in honour of the figure, could also serve as a gateway to knowledge heritage tourism and academic research, while a gallery dedicated to Masjid Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi would be set up near the mosque as an information centre on the history and legacy of the figure.
Through this recognition, Mohamad stated that Masjid Syed Sheikh Al-Hadi will be one of Penang's main Islamic tourism destinations, offering experiences to local and international tourists to learn about the history and functions of the mosque institution and appreciate the architectural beauty of the landmark along the Tanjung Bungah coastline. The mosque, built by the sea, is famous for its unique design, which creates the illusion of floating during high tide and has been one of the state's tourism icons since it began operations in 2007.