SINGAPORE, Sept 28 — A 39-year-old man has locked himself and a 2-year-old boy in a flat at Block 462 Sembawang Drive for more than 15 hours today, following a dispute with the child’s family members.

The boy is currently unharmed, according to the police, who have been trying to negotiate with the man since yesterday evening. 

In an update at 9.30am, the police told reporters: "The safety of the boy is of paramount importance to the police.”

Dr Lim Wee Kiak, the Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC, said that the boy being held in the flat is the youngest of four children and that his mother is a widow.

The 39-year-old man is her friend. 

The other three children are living with their grandmother in Woodlands.

Dr Lim said that the family has sufficient food and water in the flat and that the priority is to secure the safe release of the boy.

Yesterday, about 6.44pm, the police received a call about the incident, but the man refused to open the door to officers. 

Officers from Ang Mo Kio Division, Crisis Negotiation Unit and Special Operations Command are managing the incident. 

Members of the public are advised to stay outside the police cordon. — TODAY