Religious officials have detained a man who allegedly claimed he was God's prophet and who told his followers that the Quran was not a holy book, officials said today.

Abdul Kahar Ahmad Jalal, 55, was detained on Thursday at his home along with two members of his cult, Selangor state Religious Affairs Department official Hanif Taslim told AFP.

"After nearly two months of investigation and undercover work, we detained him on Thursday for religious deviationist activities," he said.

Abdul Kahar had also claimed that it was unnecessary to pray five times a day or make the traditional Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in jail and a fine of RM5,000.

Hamif said that Abdul Kahar did not attend Friday prayers, which is a crime under syariah laws. Instead he held weekly discussions on the Quran with his followers.

Abdul Kahar was arrested and fined in 1991 for not attending Friday prayers. The Selangor Fatwa Committee ruled then that his teachings deviated from Islam.

The issue of religion in multi-racial Malaysia is sensitive and the government is always on the lookout for what it calls "deviant" sects.