A SINGLE mother and her female friend have been arrested over the alleged abuse of a seven-year-old boy in a house in Pasir Gudang yesterday.

Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the 27-year-old mother and her 30-year-old friend were arrested by a team from the Seri Alam district police headquarters at 12.30am today following a report lodged by a member of the public.

Police also seized two canes from the scene, he said in a statement today.

The victim, who is the son of the younger woman, has been sent to Sultan Ismail Hospital in Johor Baru for treatment.

Kamarul Zaman said both women were staying in the same house and police were verifying the status of the friend, believed to be a foreigner and working as a technician at a factory.

Both women are on remand for investigation under  section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, he said, adding that the police thanked the public for providing information, which led to the boy being rescued.

Prior to that, a video recording went viral on social media. It showed members of the public rushing into a house to rescue a child suspected of being ill-treated by his mother and her friend.

Meanwhile, the wife of the regent of Johor, Che Puan Besar Khaleeda Bustamam, thanked all parties for their swift action in rescuing the boy.

“Their actions prove how important it is for the local community to care for the well-being and safety of children,” she said on her official Facebook.

“This is a reminder to us that child abuse is still an issue that requires serious attention by all parties.” – Bernama, August 12, 2023.