Penang police chief Comm Abdul Ghafar Rajab said the 45-year-old suspect was also behind the desecration of another Hindu temple near the Tunku Kudin underpass recently.

Ghafar said the man admitted to police that he was responsible for both incidents.

Yesterday’s act of vandalism of a Hindu temple was also the fifth such case in recent weeks.

Speaking to reporters at the Penang police headquarters today, Ghafar said the man broke into the temple with a parang and damaged the statues of various deities.

“The man was seen grabbing jewellery that was placed on the statues, before leaving on his motorcycle.

“His action was recorded on a closed-circuit television camera nearby.

“He was so intoxicated with morphine and we could not even interrogate him until today. We are still waiting for the drugs to wear out,” Ghafar said.

The deranged man was seen grabbing items from the deity statues, holding a parang in one hand. He was also seen gesturing obscenities at the deity statues before leaving.

Meanwhile, Ghafar added the man had 13 prior criminal records, seven of which were under the Penal Code and six under the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Ghafar also urged all not to speculate on the temple defilement and vandalism incidences nor suggest it was caused by religious extremists or motivated by the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

“No need to relate it to IS or racism, please stop this,” he said.

In early June, two Hindu temples in the Penanti estate, Ara Kuda east of Butterworth were defiled by unknown individuals. The two temples were damaged a few days apart.

On July 2, the Dewa Sri Mathuraiveeran Temple in Kampung Sungai Nibong Kechil near Bayan Lepas suffered a similar fate.

Two years ago, a Hindu and a Buddhist temple was also defiled, but police investigation revealed that it was committed by a “mentally unsound” person.