Famed businessperson SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin and ex-wife Emilia Hanafi have taken to Instagram to explain themselves after a video of the duo tussling over one of their three children went viral.

In the video that began circulating on Wednesday, Faisal, who is also Naza World Group of Companies executive chairperson, was seen approaching his son in court after the proceedings ended.

Faisal, 37, was seen trying to convince the apparently reluctant boy to temporarily go with him following a court order.

Several voices were heard in the background, with one insisting that Faisal not force the boy while another said that Faisal was abiding by the court's decision.

Faisal eventually carried the boy in his arms, prompting Emilia, also 37, to follow them. The boy then tried to cling on to his mother, who eventually took the boy from her ex-husband.

During the incident, Emilia fell to the ground with the boy in her arms.

The boy then starting crying loudly as Faisal tried to take him but the boy kept pushing him away.

In an Instagram posting, SM Faisal denied that he had acted harshly in the incident.

"I did not act roughly and was instead appealing to my ex-wife (for me) to see my child while extending my hands to carry him," he said in the post which was quoted by entertainment portal OhBulan.

Meanwhile, OhBulan quoted Emilia as saying on Instagram that while the Syariah Court ordered the children to spend a night with their father, it also said that they should not be forced if they didn't want to do so.

"In the video which has been widely circulated online, it was apparent that my second son did not want to go with my ex-husband," she was quoted as saying.

She added that her children have been traumatised by the tussle between her and her ex-husband.

Faisal was previously investigated under Section 323 of the criminal code for allegedly assaulting his wife on Nov 22, 2015, at their residence at Desa Sri Hartamas.