11 per cent drop in domestic violence cases this year

Domestic violence cases nationwide dropped by 11 per cent this year, said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry's women's development department deputy director-general, Che Azizah Che Rashid.

She said based on police records from January to September this year, there were 3,673 domestic violence cases as compared to 4,123 cases during the same period last year.

However, she said in previous years, statistics showed an increase in cases, beginning with 3,173 cases in 2010; followed by 3,277 (2011); 3,488 (2012); and 4,123 (2013).

"Among factors contributing to the decline in cases are the ministry's ongoing awareness campaigns and public awareness to report such incidents to the police," she told Bernama at the Roundtable Discussion Programme with the East Zone Voluntary Welfare-Related Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) here Sunday.

About 200 NGOs from Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang attended the programme organised by the ministry.