Gov't to study reasons for domestic violence involving senior citizens

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 279 domestic violence cases recorded in the first eight months this year involved senior citizens aged 60 and above.
This is also the first time senior citizens were listed as victims of domestic violence since 2012.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said jealousy and incompatibilities were the main reasons for domestic violence cases involving younger victims, but the reasons in the cases involving senior citizens were still unknown.
As such, she said the ministry had taken the initiative to carry out a detailed study on domestic violence involving senior citizens.
"They only appeared in our statistics this year, maybe because they didn't dare to come forward before this ... I'm worried about this fact and I don't wish to see an increase in the number," she told reporters after opening the International Day for the elimination of Violence Against Women here today.
Between January and August this year, the Royal Malaysian Police statistics showed that 3,343 cases of domestic violence were reported, involving 815 male victims and 2,528 female victims.
At a separate event, Rohani said the challenges of globalisation, especially relating to information and communication technology (ICT) also posed a risk to vulnerable groups, especially children.
"The digital gap is getting smaller and the technology is bringing people closer now, but within the closed groups, the people are actually isolated," she said when opening the Indonesia-Malaysia Cultural and Cooperation Symposium.
Citing a situation where a group of people were dining in a restaurant, she said they might seemed to be eating their lunch or dinner together, but in reality, they were spending more time focusing on their smart phones or tablets.
As such, Rohani also called on all quarters under the Asean Community to work together towards social development, balance and well-being.
The 14th edition of the symposium was jointly organised by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Padjadjaran, Bandung, with the cooperation of Malaysian Social Institute. — Bernama