Minister: 190 domestic violence cases from March 18-May 12
PARLIAMENT | The Welfare Department recorded 190 domestic violence complaints during the movement control order (MCO) period between March 18 and May 12.
Of the 190 complaints, 181 cases involved female survivors while nine were male survivors....
PARLIAMENT | The Welfare Department recorded 190 domestic violence complaints during the movement control order (MCO) period between March 18 and May 12.
Of the 190 complaints, 181 cases involved female survivors while nine were male.
Some 84 percent of cases (160) had survivors between 18 and 45 years of age. Twenty-six cases involved survivors aged between 46 and 74.
Three cases were that of seniors aged 75 and above; while one case included a child aged between seven and 12.
In her written parliamentary reply, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun had provided the number of domestic violence complaints the Welfare Department received per state.
The highest number of cases was registered in Selangor with 70, followed by Johor (21), Kuala Lumpur (20), Penang (15), Pahang (13), Perak (12), Kedah (11), Negeri Sembilan (eight), Sabah (eight), Kelantan (five), Terengganu (three), Malacca (three) and Sarawak (one).
Perlis and Labuan did not register any cases over the period.
In his question to Rina (below), Zakaria Mohd Edris (BN-Libaran) also wanted to know what the ministry had done to assist victims of domestic violence.
The minister replied that the police had taken action on the suspected perpetrators while Welfare Department officers acted under Section 11 of the Domestic Violence Act 1994.
The Section stipulates that the court can order one or more parties be referred to rehabilitative therapy, psychotherapy or other forms of “reconciliatory counselling”.
It also states that the Welfare Department is the conciliatory body tasked with making recommendations to the court on such therapy or counselling. This can be in lieu or on top of a protection order (PO).
According to Rina, some other forms of assistance for domestic violence survivors and their families include issuing an emergency PO; helping them to obtain a PO or interim PO from the court; providing temporary shelter; providing counselling or tele-counselling; providing advice under the Domestic Violence Act; and referring them to relevant agencies for the help they might need.
Previously, authorities and NGOs had warned of a likely increase in the number and severity of domestic violence cases, as victims were trapped at home with their abusers during the MCO.
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