Johor is second highest in domestic violence in Malaysia
JOHOR BARU: Johor has a record it cannot be proud of – it is the state with the second largest number of domestic violence after Selangor, with the majority of the victims between the ages of 26 to 35.
State Women Development and Tourism Committee chairman Liow Cai Tung said this when closing the "Violence Against Women" seminar and awareness campaign on violence against women at Dewan Taman Sinar Harapan Jubli here today.
"According to police statistics, Johor recorded 3,424 domestic violence cases from 2013 to 2018, after Selangor with 4,064 cases," Liow said.
Worryingly, she said, such cases are increasing year by year, from 583 cases in 2013 to 681 cases in 2017.
"Johor recorded 315 cases of domestic violence within the first five months of this year," Liow added.
"Women cannot fight domestic violence alone, we need the help from men, so our advocacy campaigns needs the involvement of men," she said.
Some 758 women had lodged police reports as victims of domestic violence in the first five months of this year.
Liow said the main causes of domestic violence consisted of misunderstanding between husband and wife and husbands failing to control their anger that resulted in physical violence such as beating, kicking that caused pain and trauma to the victims.
Most of the times, victims felt panic and could not cope with social pressure such as from family members, relatives and friends.
"We need to give the victim a hand as we are a caring society."
She said children too were unwitting victims of domestic violence, resulting in them running away from home, unwanted pregnancy and abandoned babies after delivery.
Liow said domestic violence does not recognise race and religion.
"It is universal violence that we need to combat together."
Anyone who needs help can call the domestic violence and child abuse hotline at 15999 (24 hours).
The programme was joint organised by Johor Women Development Department and Association of Wives of State Assemblymen in Johor (Jasmine).
Jasmine chairman Datin Nora Mohd Som was also present.