Manjung police chief Nordin Abdullah said the 35-year-old lorry driver was arrested at 9.30pm yesterday and is being investigated for defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion, and for misuse of network facilities.

Nordin said the police were made aware of a video which went viral showing a man vandalising the statuettes at the shrine in Kampung Koh, Manjung, at 1.30pm yesterday.

“We arrested the suspect at his workplace and confiscated his mobile phone, which is believed to have been used to record the video,” he said in a statement today.

He said a police report was lodged by a station chief upon viewing the video.

The suspect will be brought to the Teluk Intan magistrates’ court today to be remanded.

The offence of defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion carries a maximum penalty of two years’ jail or a fine, or both, upon conviction. The offence of misuse of network facilities carries a penalty of up to one year’s jail, and fine of up to RM50,000, or both.

Nordin warned the public not to play up issues touching on race, religion and royalty as it could threaten national security.