Rina: Domestic violence resurges during extended Covid-19 lockdown

PARLIAMENT | Domestic violence is seeing a resurgence during the extended lockdown this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to police statistics provided by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun to Parliament.

Addressing the Dewan Rakyat during Ministers’ Question Time, Rina said the police had received complaints of 5,657 domestic violence cases in 2019. This reduced slightly to 5,260 in 2020.

However, between January and August this year, Rina said they had already received 4,905 cases.

This works out to an average of 512 cases a month this year as of August, compared to an average of 438 and 471 cases a month in 2020 and 2019 respectively.

“The movement control order (MCO) has greatly affected our country economically and socially.

“The ministry is very concerned and committed to handle this crisis of the family institution caused by Covid-19,” Rina said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Among the initiatives taken by the ministry to tackle this issue are efforts to promote the Talian Kasih as well as their WhatsApp contact, which operates 24 hours a day, she added.

The hotline is meant to be a “single point of contact” for people to relay their complaints, receive advice and provide access to help and support from the ministry.

“This will help the public or the victim by providing them with information so that they will not continue to stay in a situation where they will be exposed to domestic violence which is a threat to them and their family members,” Rina said.

The hotline had received 2,286 reports between March to December last year, whereas from January to August this year, it received 2,248 reports.

The ministry has also ramped up its efforts to raise social awareness about domestic violence through all forms of media, including social media, electronic media and print media, she said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse (or other forms of gender-based violence), you may contact the following resources for assistance:

WAO Hotline: +603 300 8858 (24 hours); Tina (WhatsApp); +6018 988 8058 (24 hours)

Talian Kasih: 15999 (24 hours) / +6019 2615999 (WhatsApp)

Telenisa Hotline & WhatsApp: +6012 812 3424

All Women’s Action Society (Awam) Hotline & WhatsApp: +6016 237 4221

Women’s Centre For Change (WCC) Hotline: (WCC Penang) +6011 3108 4001 / 016428 7265; (WCC Seberang/PPW) +6016 439 0698 / +6016 418 0342

Malaysia Emergency Response Service (Mers): 999 (24 hours)

You can also visit the Women's Aid Organisation's website for information on domestic violence and how to get help.

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