KUANTAN, MALAYSIA - A badly-bruised nine-year-old girl, suspected to be a victim of abuse, was found semi-nude and abandoned at a shophouse in Jalan Air Puteh here.

A shopkeeper who found the girl crying about 8.30am, alerted state MCA officials of the girl's plight.

Following this, a group of Wanita MCA members led by Teruntum state assemblyman Chang Hong Seong sent the girl, who was clad only in a T-shirt, to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, where she was warded.

'The girl alleged that she was beaten with an iron ruler while her face was pricked with a needle after her guardian accused her of stealing money.

'She has not eaten for the last three days. Her mother, who works as a cleaner in Batu Pahat, is now with her at the hospital after being told about the incident,' Chang said.

He said the mother, who was separated from her husband, left the girl in the care of the guardian about three weeks ago.

Pahang CID deputy chief Supt Nordin Mustapha said a woman in her 40s was arrested in connection with the alleged abuse of the girl.