MALACCA - A 10-year-old boy from Machap Umboo, Alor Gajah, was beaten with a cane and rubber hose by his parents because he was naughty and hyperactive.

The boy, who had been abused since 2008, is now under the care of the state Welfare Department.

State deputy Criminal Investigation Department chief Superintendent Hamdan Majid said the abuse started after he moved in with his parents in 2008.

The Year Four student of a school in Machap had been raised by his grandmother in Umbai, Malacca since birth.

"The boy was found wandering by a 53-year-old man in Machap at 8.30pm on Monday," he said.

Hamdan said police picked up the boy's 39-year-old father, a mechanic, and his 35-year-old mother, a housewife. They have been remanded for seven days.

He added that the boy behaved mischievously to get his parents' attention and this made them hit him to control him.