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A two-year-old boy has been found sobbing on the street at 4am because of online rumours he was a GHOST.

The abandoned toddler was standing outside a petrol station in Malaysia in an emotional state after a WhatsApp message alleging he was a ghost quickly went viral.

A group of people were even standing at a distance from the crying little boy and warning others to stay away because he was a ‘toyol’, the spirit of a child that brings bad luck to those who approach or talk to it.

His saviour was a builder driving home on the Jalan Tun Perak road in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur after a night shift who stopped to get petrol.

Rizdwandean Razali, 27, said: "I saw the boy with people standing around and I wanted to go towards him, but a man called me to stay away and said he was a toyol.

"I didn't believe it and I approached him and waved him over."

(Image: Getty)

"There were several bikers there and they pointed to his red and swollen eyes, and said this was proof that he was a spirit," he continued.

"But in fact his eyes were red from crying and calling for his mother."

"As soon as he saw that, he came running towards me crying non-stop, and just repeated the word 'mama'.

"Then I gave him a bottle of mineral water and a packet of chicken rice."

He said he took the child to the Ayer Keroh police station at 6.30am to file a police report.

Local police Supt Razali Bakar said the boy was identified as Mohd Faqhrul Radzee who had been left with his neighbour after his 31-year-old mother was detained on June 21 for possession of a stolen vehicle.

(Image: Flickr RF)

He said the boy is the fourth of five siblings aged between eight months and six years.

While his other siblings were cared for by their grandmother, the boy was left with a neighbour.

Supt Razali said: "The child's mother is a single parent and was working as a cook before she was detained.

"She left him with her neighbour but we believe the boy was abandoned by the neighbour."

Police who went to the neighbour's house were told that the family had not returned home.

The boy is currently in care and has also been sent for a medical check-up.