Abdellatif Ouisa, who runs the YouTube and TikTok channel AbdeenTube, said he had received multiple hateful messages for his stunt, adding that he felt it was strange.

He said he thought Batu Caves was a historic site rather than a religious one, and that he did not know the iconic 42.7m-tall statue was of a Hindu deity, namely Lord Murugan.

“I did not think that this would hurt some people, especially the Hindus. I apologise if I have hurt anyone. It was not my intention to hurt anyone or make people feel bad about my recitation of the Quran.

“That is the content (that I produce) actually. I do it everywhere. I am a Muslim and I spread love through the Quran,” he said in a video.

He also apologised to Buddhists for reciting Quranic verses in front of the Chin Swee Caves temple in Genting Highlands.

Abdellatif, who has 3.9 million followers on TikTok and 228,000 subscribers on YouTube, had been criticised on social media for his actions, with some quarters calling for police to apprehend him.