Langkawi district police chief Shariman Ashari said they detained the 36-year-old man at 12.05am today after he had settled matters related to the death of his two sons, Nizambudin Jamaludin, four, and Ngei, two, at the hospital.

According to Shariman, the boys died at about 6.15pm yesterday and the father tested positive for drugs.

“The man, a boat repairman who also does odd jobs in the village, has been remanded for 14 days.

“The bodies of the two brothers were sent to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar today for a post-mortem,” he said in a statement today.

Shariman said the case was being investigated under Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

He said the man was homeless and staying in a neighbour’s house with his sons. His wife was believed to have returned to Myanmar.