This follows social media reports of a photograph and video showing three children apparently left locked inside a rented room in Larkin Perdana, Johor Baharu, while their parents were  away.

Johor police chief Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said parents found to have neglected their children can be charged under the Child Act (Amendment) 2016, Bernama reported.

A person is liable to a fine of RM50,000 and 20-year jail for abusing, neglecting and persecuting of children under Section 31 of the Child Act (Amendment) 2016.

In an incident yesterday, TheSun daily reported that the Social Welfare Department (JKM) rescued the three siblings, two girls and a boy, aged 12 months to six years.

They are believed to be victims of parental neglect and neighbours were alerted to their plight by some noise.

According to a Facebook post, the children had not had a bath for days and were only eating rice with ketchup.

The mother was believed to be working in a factory in Gelang Patah, leaving the children with the father, who apparently had left the children alone.

The children obviously could not take care of themselves, with faeces found all over the place.

The children have since been moved to a daycare centre at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital.