Villagers who heard her screams at about 12.40pm managed to apprehend the suspect, who was handed over to the police.

Sungai Buloh police chief Hafiz Nor said the suspect had gone to the woman’s house and introduced himself as a cleaner before going to the living room and tried to grab the boy.

After the mother screamed for help, a neighbour went to the house and saw the man trying to flee, leaving the child behind.

“The neighbour and other residents gave chase and managed to detain the suspect near a garbage disposal area about 500m away and handed him over to the police,” he said in a statement.

An investigation paper has been opened under Section 363 of the Penal Code for kidnapping.

Earlier, several video clips had gone viral showing a man, with hands tied, lying down after being detained by the public.