PORT DICKSON (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Police have detained the father and stepmother of an abused nine-year-old girl who died early on Thursday (Feb 1).

Port Dickson district police chief Supt Zainudin Ahmad said a post-mortem conducted on the child revealed that she had serious injuries caused by a blunt object.

"There were injuries to her kidneys and tears in her intestines as well as fractures to her ribs," he said.

Supt Zainudin said the girl's father found her unconscious at their Taman Vista Jaya home in Lukut around 11.30pm on Wednesday.

He then performed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim, but she did not regain consciousness.

"The father rushed her to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban but she was pronounced dead at 12.30am," Supt Zainudin said.

He added that both the suspects, who are in their 30s, were being investigated under section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Supt Zainudin said police had also questioned the father in June last year after a report was lodged by the victim's mother.

"The mother had picked up the victim and another child from her ex-husband's house and was shocked to see swellings on the victim's body.

"We then questioned the father and he had admitted to hitting the victim. However, he apparently did this to educate their child," Supt Zainudin said.

Police then referred the case to the deputy public prosecutor but no further action was taken.