A man who was filmed spray-painting a caged monkey has been arrested after the shocking footage triggered public outrage.

The disturbing incident took place in Shah Alam, a town in Selangor province, Malaysia, and was circulated online before police confirmed the arrest on Saturday, 24th May.

The exact date of the abuse remains unclear.

The footage shows an older man shaking a can of blue spray paint before dousing the defenceless animal inside a cage while a voice off-camera laughs.

Animal rights activists and NGOs slammed the abuse and demanded harsher penalties for offenders.

The Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia organisation said: "We call upon Perhilitan [Department of Wildlife and National Parks] to act swiftly and thoroughly in investigating this case.

"It must ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice to uphold the rule of law and send a strong message against any form of animal abuse."

A police spokesperson said the man, whose identity was not revealed, was detained after a tip-off from a member of the public.

The case is being probed under Malaysia's Animal Welfare Act which allows for jail terms of up to one year and fines up to MYR 50,000 (GBP 8,700).

The monkey's condition after the incident is not yet known but the man is seen spraying the can of blue paint directly into its face and its eyes including all over its tiny body.

Authorities are working to locate the owner of the monkey and ensure the animal receives proper care.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)