Tourists banned from famous mosque after 'sexy dance' goes viral

A prominent mosque – considered one of the most beautiful in Malaysia, owing to its stunning blue and gold dome and serene man-made lagoon – has temporarily banned tourists after a video of two women doing a provocative dance went viral.

The clip, shared with the Facebook page Sabah Info, shows two young women wearing figure hugging shorts and crop tops and performing a dance routine while standing on the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque wall in Sabah, as another woman appears to film them on her phone.

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An angry onlooker can be heard off-camera saying: "Why don't they just fall off the wall?"

The video has already garnered more than 273,000 views since it was posted three days ago, with furious locals and commentators calling for foreign tourists to "respect" local customs and religious sites.

Visitors to Malaysian mosques are advised to wear modest clothing.

The mosque has temporarily banned public transport from bringing tourists to the site or entering the compound.

Mosque chairman Jamal Sakaran made the banning announcement one day after the clip exploded online, branding the women's actions "unacceptable."

Sakaran also stated there would be further discussions with tour operators to prevent similar incidents occurring in the future.

The sacred structure, which appears like it's 'floating' over Lukas Bay, is a stunning example of Islamic architecture and a highly snapped subject by visitors to the region.

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There have been reports that Malaysian authorities have been trying to identify the duo that appear in the controversial clip, though a representative for the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew has since told local newspaper The Star there would be no legal action taken against the young women, as they were likely unaware of the seriousness of their actions.

But it's a stern reminder of the repercussions that foreign visitors face when they disrespect the local customs of a destination.

In 2015, a group of Westerners were charged over taking naked photos at the peak of sacred Mount Kinabalu. Many locals blamed the lewd act for causing an earthquake, which killed 16 people.