Domestic violence tops reasons for divorce in 2023 - report

The latest Telenisa Legal Clinic report revealed that domestic violence remained the top reason for its 459 clients seeking divorce in 2023.

According to the report released today, 20 percent of its clients sought divorce due to that reason.

“Domestic violence here is the pattern of abusive behaviour used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over his or her partner.

“This can lead to physical, sexual, psychological, social, and financial stress.

“It is a violation of human rights and has become a day-to-day reality for hundreds of women’s lives in our country that limits the rights to life, security, equality, and self-development,” the report stated.

Other reasons cited for divorce are husbands’ failure to provide maintenance, communication breakdown, and infidelity.

The 2023 report, focusing on issues related to children and wives, showed that 93 percent of clients were women and seven percent were men.

The top three regions the clients hail from were Selangor (200), Kuala Lumpur (105), and Johor (44) - with most of them being homemakers, followed by support staff and professionals.

On that note, Sisters In Islam legal officer Syafiqah Fikri told Malaysiakini that many husbands hurled insults at their spouses to gain the upper hand in the relationship.

“The verbal abuse typically degrades the wife’s dignity, with insults such as calling her a ‘cheap woman’ or ‘useless woman’, among other derogatory terms.

“Financial abuse also happens when the husband controls the wife’s money, including by holding her bank card,” she said.

Syafiqah added that there are also instances where the husband uses the wife’s money to fund his own expenses.

However, she noted that women are better educated on their rights these days, which leads to them taking action which, among others, involves seeking a divorce.

RM50 for household expenses

Meanwhile, on the failure to provide maintenance, the report noted that “husbands also expect the wife to manage household expenses with inadequate maintenance provided”.

Some clients even mentioned that they received as low as RM50 to maintain household expenditures.

“Clients also raised concerns about unemployed husbands, which can severely impact the family’s financial stability, leading to struggles to meet basic needs and potential reliance on savings or borrowing to sustain their livelihood.”

To address these problems, the report had six recommendations, which are:

• Education and awareness.

• Enhanced legal support.

• Stricter enforcement.

• Financial assistance programmes.

• Mandatory mediation and counselling.

• Community support networks.

KLIA shooting: Address violence against women, NGO urges

Redeem yourself, empower Kedah women - Wanita MCA tells Sanusi

Ex-activist Khalid to answer domestic abuse allegations in court

Over 19k domestic violence cases reported in past three years