The diplomatic crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran is primarily a political issue, even if both nations couch it as a sectarian dispute, said Singapore-based academics and religious leaders yesterday.

The latest flare-up in the Middle East is therefore unlikely to spark major friction here, they said.

The reason: Singapore has spent decades promoting harmony between and within religions, regardless of the size of their following, said Syed Hassan Alattas, head of Ba’alwi Mosque.

… And while the Muslim community here has always been interested in discussing different theological ideas, it is far less interested in the sociopolitical elements that underpin the Saudi-Iranian conflict, said Mr Mohammad Alami Musa of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

“Unity is of primary importance for Muslims in Singapore because we are a very small community, and we cannot afford any division.”