Lately, the number of domestic cases keep increasing day by day. This is actually a very serious issue to deal with. We often hear of women who are victims of mental and physical abuse in their marriage.
If you’re a personal victim of abuse or know anyone who is currently in an abusive household, here are some ways to prevent domestic violence.
According to the Ministry Of Health, under the Domestic Violence Act 1994, these are several ways that the victims of abuse can report their cases to the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and PDRM to obtain the following orders:
Interim Protection Order (IPO)
- This order is given to victims while waiting for the police to investigate the case.
Protection Order (PO)
- This order is given when the victim still needs protection. It is released after legal actions are taken under the penal code where the suspect is accused of doing wrong. The order can be enforced for 12 months.
Additional Orders
- Gives the victim the right to live exclusively in their own residence and orders the abuser to leave the house, even if it belongs to the abuser or if the abuser is paying rent.
- Provide victims with facilities to enter the residence to take their belongings accompanied by the police or community welfare officers.
- Prevent the abuser from contacting the victim through written means or by calling the victim.
- Directing the abuser to hand over a vehicle if it has been used by the victim the whole time.
- Provide compensation that measures up to the injury or any damage or loss suffered by the victim.
If the victims need help from registered agencies to help protect them and their children from domestic violence, here is a list of agencies they can contact:
Government Agencies
- Social Welfare Department (JKM)
- Police station
- Hospital
- Religious office
- Legal Aid Department
Non-Government Organizations
- Women’s Aid Organization (WAO) – Phone 03-79563488 or 018-9888058
- All Women Action Society (AWAM) – Call 03-78774221 or 016-2374221
- Women Crisis Center (WCC) – Phone 04-2280342 or 011-31084001
- Befrienders – Phone 03-76272929
Sources: MyHealth