Ronny Cham, representing the four, said they were ignorant of local customs and "their act had brought shame and ridicule upon themselves and their respective countries".

He asked the judge to not make an example of them, saying the intense international media coverage had traumatized them enough.

Mr Cham called for the group to be fined and deported rather than sent to jail.

The prosecution argued the public interest was central to the case and, according to Malaysian law, anyone committing an "obscene act" which causes annoyance in a public place should be jailed for up to 3 months.

Many Malaysians had been outraged by the group's behaviour, he said, and the case was about "upholding the [country's] morals and customs"

The court remains in recess while the judge considers a sentence.

Earlier, the four arrived at court accompanied by officials wearing balaclavas.

The accused covered their faces as they entered the building, surrounded by a media scrum.

"There's a lot of public anger still against the tourists because many of them believe Mount Kinabalu is a sacred spot where their souls go to rest when they die," Ms Pak said.

"The fact that these foreigners are alleged to have stripped on the peak, urinated and cursed at staff members trying to stop them is something that many locals say is disrespectful."

On Friday last week, an earthquake struck killing 18 people, including children, and leaving hundreds more stranded.

Sabah state deputy chief minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan blamed it on the travellers showing "disrespect to the sacred mountain"

News agency AFP said police were still seeking five other suspects but some were thought to have already left Sabah.