The child, who was left alone at home and found with multiple injuries all over his body, was rescued by police after a report was lodged yesterday.

Ipoh police chief Yahaya Hassan said police received a call at 4.30pm yesterday, informing them that a child living in a flat unit in the Menglembu area was being abused.

“A member of the public found the boy in a state of starvation and with injuries all over his body. The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001,” he said in a statement today.

Police arrested the boy’s 23-year-old mother and her 25-year-old boyfriend at the flat at about 7pm yesterday.

Yahaya said police seized a rubber pipe and a cane believed to have been used to hit the boy.

“The man, who is a cardboard box scavenger, and the mother, who works as a cleaner, have been remanded until Aug 7.

“The victim is being treated at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital,” he said, adding the man tested positive for methamphetamine.