Shops selling imported statues of the Hindu god Ganesh talking on a mobile phone have been warned to remove them immediately, reports said today.

"Those selling them will be warned, while those caught a second time will be slapped with a summons," Home Ministry spokesman Mohamad Shah Ismail was quoted as saying by the Sun .

The appearance in local shops of the elephant-headed Ganesh wearing shoes, a turban and using a handphone caused outrage among Hindus earlier this week.

Offensive image

"The altered statues are offensive and give a distorted depiction of Lord Ganesha," chairman of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam Penang state council P. Murugiah said.

"On behalf of the local Hindu community, we demand that the importers and distributors of the statues stop selling the degrading statues," he was quoted as saying. - AFP