Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the boy had been left in the care of a 28-year-old male friend of the father.

He said the father had paid his friend, a salesman, RM2,800 a month to take care of his two children for the past three months.

“The father works in Singapore and the mother works in Yong Peng.

“Initial investigations revealed that there were several injuries on the victim’s body, as well as bruises and a few cuts, however, we are waiting for a comprehensive report following the post-mortem,” he said.

Kamarul Zaman said the suspect, who has a record of several criminal offences, and the maid, aged 40, were arrested this afternoon.

He said the boy’s one-year-old sibling did not suffer any injuries.

The case is being investigated as suspected murder.