Drop in domestic violence cases

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said, based on statistics by the Royal Malaysian Police, only 2,229 cases of domestic violence were reported from January until September this year, from 2,558 cases in 2012.

"I believe the drop in the number of domestic abuse is the result of the programmes and campaigns carried out by the ministry and the various quarters," she said in her speech when opening the International Day on Addressing Violence Against Women at a shopping complex here Monday.

She said victims of domestic violence should not be afraid to lodge complaints to enable the government to provide them with the necessary assistance, like protection and counselling.

Rohani said there were 41 safe houses for women, out of which 32 were managed by the Social Welfare Department.

On a report of a 69-year-old Malaysian kept as a slave for 30 years in a house in London, England, Rohani said the ministry would provide the necessary assistance, like counselling and a place for her to stay.

Meanwhile, in KUCHING, increasing awareness among women who are victims of domestic violence in Sarawak has resulted in more reported cases of domestic violence since 2011.

Sarawak Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister, Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the Welfare Services Department statistics showed that 64 cases were reported to the department last year compared to 56 in 2011.

She told reporters after officiating at the state-level celebration of the International Day Against Violence Against Women here Monday, that 49 cases were reported to the department this year until September.

She said the police had recorded 282 domestic violence cases in 2012 compared to 249 in 2011, and 190 cases were recorded between January and October, this year.

Fatimah said, the lower number of reported cases in the past was due to the women thinking that they were at fault, besides feeling ashamed and not being aware of their rights as women.