A businessman in Malaysia has offered a reward for information leading to the safe return of 12-year-old Nayati Moodliar.

The boy - whose father is a South African citizen; his mother is Dutch - was abducted by two men in Kuala Lumpur on April 27.

But yesterday a family spokesman said he was "not aware of the reward".

On Monday, the Malaysian Digest newspaper reported that a "prominent businessman" who had asked not to be named had offered about R128000 for Nayati's safe return.

"I will help in whatever way I can.

"What is [R128000] compared to the safe return of the boy?" the businessman was quoted as saying.

The newspaper embarked on a campaign to "galvanise Malaysians to help locate the boy".

"There have been stories like that in the media but we are not aware of it," said the family spokesman.

Another newspaper, The Malaysian Times, is reportedly offering a R25600 reward for information on Nayati's whereabouts that could lead to his safe return.