Muslim leaders have, in recent years, noticed a disturbing trend among a section of the community.

Some of the young feel it is against their faith to wish Christians “Merry Christmas” or Hindus “Happy Deepavali”.

Some also preach that it is wrong for them to recite the National Pledge, sing the National Anthem or undergo national service.

They also believe the democratically elected Government in Singapore is not compatible with Islam, and they should live in a caliphate.

That such marginal, exclusive sentiments are held worries Muslim religious leaders interviewed by The Straits Times, who say these have not taken root here.

“Like it or not, members of our community have been influenced,” said Ambassador Mohammad Alami Musa. Mr Alami, who heads the Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, added that such ideas are “alien to the Islamic ethos in Singapore”.