JOHOR BARU, Aug 14 — Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi called for strict action against those who were found to abuse children.

He said this after seeing the condition of a seven-year-old boy who was said to be abused by a relative and her friend in Pasir Gudang last Friday.

"Insya Allah (God willing), those who have abused adik Iman (the victim) will be prosecuted according to Section 31 (1)(a) of the Children Act 2001 which can be punished under Section 31(1) of the same Act, read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which provides for a maximum imprisonment of 20 years or a maximum fine of RM50,000 or both, if convicted,” he said in a brief post on his official Facebook tonight.

Onn Hafiz visited the child, who has since been called Iman, at Hospital Sultan Ismail (HSI) here.

The menteri besar said he was informed that the victim will be looked after by his grandfather once he is discharged from the hospital.

He thanked the public, especially the local community, for being aware of the victim’s situation and reporting the case to the authorities.

On Saturday, Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said that a 27-year-old relative of the victim and her 30-year-old foreign friend were arrested on suspicion of abusing the child.

Several videos and images that showed members of the public entering a house to rescue a child believed to have been physically abused have gone viral.