GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia: The saga of the 10-year-old boy who was left home alone by his mother 18 months ago has taken on a new twist.

J.H. Yeap, who had been looking forward to joining his grandaunt and granduncle in Kuantan, now faces another obstacle; his mother has refused to give him up.

Yeap's mother, who is an odd job worker, returned to her mother's house yesterday with an unidentified man in his 30s.

She confronted her 68-year-old mother, Loh Ah Eng, and scolded her for revealing family matters.

"I go out to work and I can take care of my son," she shouted with tears streaming down her cheeks.

She then had an argument with her sister, after which Yeap's grandaunt, Yeap Choon Lean, escorted her out of the house and pacified her.

Yeap's mother left about 10 minutes later with the man.

She had also called out to her son but Yeap, who was staying with his grandmother pending the decision on his custody, sat in his room. He did, however, venture a peep.

Asked by a reporter if he was afraid of his mother, he replied: "No, I am not afraid. My mother is quite fierce though."

It was reported that Yeap had been living on his own in a rubbish-filled apartment here for the past 18 months, after his mother left him.

The last time he met his mother, she had given him an ATM card and said she would deposit RM30 a week for his expenses.

However, she stopped depositing money two weeks ago and Yeap had been loitering in the neighbourhood seeking help. A good Samaritan had been providing him with food for the past two weeks.

His grandmother, who lived in the same apartment block, was unable to take care of him due to her frail health.

Yeap's grandaunt and granduncle, who had arrived from Kuantan after learning of his plight, had earlier agreed to take the boy home and raise him.

State Health, Welfare and Caring Society committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said authorities were trying to get Yeap's mother to give up custody of her child, as she had failed to take care of him.

"If she insists on keeping him, then she must take care of the child and not abandon him," Phee said.

A Welfare Department officer is counselling the boy's mother on the provisions of the law, and the situation that Yeap is in.

"A decision will only be made in a couple of days.

"If we cannot reach a decision, we may take action under the law," Phee said at Yeap's grandmother's house yesterday.