MALACCA, MALAYSIA - Police have arrested a man in his 20s over the abuse of an eight-month-old girl rescued by welfare officers two days ago.

The suspect is the lover of the baby's 28-year-old mother. He was picked up at the Malacca Hospital at about 11am yesterday when he came to visit the victim.

State CID chief ACP Mohd Adnan Abdullah said the arrest was made shortly after a report was lodged yesterday by a police officer for alleged child abuse.

The alleged abuse is believed to have taken place on Sunday.

A babysitter staying nearby saw the baby's condition the next day and informed her husband, who alerted the welfare authorities.

The baby had cane marks and bruises on her head, face and legs.

The baby's mother has four other children, aged two to seven. They will be sent to hospital to determine if they had also been abused.

State Youth, Sports and Welfare Committee chairman Datuk Abd Karim Sulaiman said a court order was obtained for welfare officers to take temporary custody of all five children pending investigations.

Abd Karim said welfare authorities would also carry out an evaluation to determine if the mother was capable of caring for her children.

The mother from Pontian in Johor is said to have been separated from her husband and moved to Malacca with her lover about a month ago.