Its manager, Mohd Zanafi Wahab, expressed his regret over the incident, saying it was unintentional.

He said he wanted the matter to be resolved without any quarrel or confusion, unlike what had been alleged in viral messages over social media today.

Zanafi was reported by Berita Harian as saying that he did not see what had occurred as he was busy with the many customers at the outlet, and was only made aware of it when the child’s family were hurrying to leave.

“I asked them what had happened. They said their child was splashed with hot tom yam soup.

“I tried to apologise, extended my hand and offered RM200 for medical treatment, but they seemed to disregard it,” he said, adding that they were in a state of panic at that time.

“Today, I found out the incident had become viral on social media. Many things that are being said are not true,” he added.

He denied hurling the money at the family as had been alleged.

“Some people accused me of throwing the money when no such thing happened. The family was just rushing to leave and it may have appeared as though I was tossing the money at them.”

He said he was shocked at the false statements being made, adding that they were damaging the image of his restaurant which had been in business for the last six years.

The accounts were shared on Facebook together with photos of the child’s badly-scalded neck and back.

Berita Harian reported that the family members had taken the child to a nearby clinic for treatment.

Zanafi said he intended to meet the family to again personally apologise to them.

A witness, Rosnani Mohd Nawi, 36, was reported to have said that she saw the child knocking the hand of an employee serving the bowl of soup, causing the hot contents to splash on the victim.