PENANG, Malaysia: The mother of 10-year-old Yeap Jia Hui, who has been living alone for almost two years, turned up at his grandmother's home in Batu Feringghi yesterday claiming she did not abandon her son.

Yeap Kim Hong, 46, stood in the corridor of her mother's apartment at noon shouting: "I want to see my son! I went away to work and still took care of my son.

"Why did you tell all our private matters to the public?" She then burst into tears.

Yeap, an odd-job worker, came with an unidentified man, in his late 30s, who also hurled harsh words at the boy's grandmother, grandaunt and aunt, who were present.

The boy and his grandmother stayed indoors while Yeap argued with her younger sister in the corridor.

The boy watched the commotion from a window and kept quiet even when his mother called out to him. The drama did not frighten him, he said when asked by a Chinese press reporter who was present during the incident.

Yeap finally left with the man after her aunt pacified her.

About three hours later, state Welfare Services Department officers visited and counselled the boy and his grandmother.

With them were state Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and Tanjung Bungah assemblyman Teh Yee Cheu.

The boy has been living alone in a smelly rubbish-filled apartment at Ferringhi Mutiara, several floors above his grandmother's unit.

On Sunday, the boy had said that he had been living alone as his mother was away and his grandmother was too old to care for him. His mother had given him an ATM card and visited him every two to three weeks but he last saw her two weeks ago.

Phee said the boy was still under the custody of his mother and the authorities would have to get her consent before any decision could be made on whether he could come under the care of his grandaunt from Kuantan.

"We want to resolve this matter amicably but if the mother refuses to give her consent, we will take action under the law. As of now, the boy will be staying with his grandmother for the next two days," he said.