The smashing of idols at a Hindu temple in Ipoh yesterday is neither a racial issue nor associated with the Islamic State militant group, according to the police.

A man believed to be of unsound mind had committed the act at the Sree Muneeswarar Amman Temple in Jalan Hospital, said Perak Chief Police Officer Abdul Rahim Hanafi.

An investigation showed that the 29-year-old man, who had studied abroad, was under psychiatric treatment and did not have any criminal record, he told reporters after the monthly assembly at the Perak Police headquarters in Ipoh today.

Abdul Rahim said the man would be taken to Hospital Bahagia in Tanjung Rambutan today for a medical examination.

He warned the people against manipulating the incident into a social media viral issue, saying the police did not want any undermining of public order in Perak.

After smashing the idols, the man drove his car against traffic along Jalan Ghazali Jawi and crashed it onto a bus shelter, and police arrested the man.

- Bernama