Petaling Jaya police chief Shahrulnizam Ja’afar confirmed the arrest today, adding that the suspect was detained to assist in investigations, Harian Metro reported.

“A media statement will be released,” he was quoted as saying.

Previously, the Malay daily reported that Firdaus lodged a police report after allegedly receiving death threats on Facebook in response to his comments on the temple issue.

The preacher claimed that the suspect had sent the death threats to him via private messages on the social media platform.

He claimed that the individual had in two instances threatened to kill him if they ever met.

The Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple in Kuala Lumpur is at the centre of a controversy following allegations that it would be facing demolition to make way for the construction of a mosque.

On Thursday, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) said it had identified a site for the relocation of the temple. It also said that the mosque was not proposed by the government, but by the private company as the legal landowner.

DBKL said that as the government-appointed authority tasked with administering the city, it had taken proactive steps to help reach an amicable solution for all parties.