A serial rapist who pretended to be a "holy person" selling Islamic prayer mats has been sentenced to 40 years in jail and 24 strokes of the cane.

Ismail Shah Abdul Wahab, a 23-year-old antiques dealer, approached his three victims, who were aged between 13 and 24, at bus stops by asking them for directions to the nearest mosque or religious school to sell his mats.

He would then force them into his car and drive them to his apartment, where he sexually attacked them, The Sun newspaper said.

"He pretended to be a holy person and used his religion to lure his victims," deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Abazafree Abbas said during the trial, according to the newspaper.

The 13-year-old girl was raped while Ismail was out on bail for attacking the 16-year-old girl, the New Straits Times said.

Ismail still has to face seven other charges including rape, kidnapping and molest on three other victims as young as 11 years old, it added.