KUALA LUMPUR: Bad temper, or failure to manage anger, has been identified as the main cause of domestic violence in Malaysia, with the victims overwhelmingly women.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh said 71 cases of bad temper were recorded this year involving women as victims, while 14 involved men.
She added that misunderstanding over many issues was the second largest factor that contributed to domestic violence, with 48 cases involving women victims.
Research also identified drug addiction as the third factor, involving about 43 cases involving women and one for men.
“The National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) has started to look at online courses to find out how these victims could get help.
“For example, bad temper, is common in a household.
“However, many have no idea where to seek help,” she said at the Dewan Rakyat here today.
Yeoh was replying to an additional question from Datuk Noraini Ahmad (BN-Parit Sulong) on what the government could do to encourage victims of domestic violence to get help, as most of them prefer to suffer in silence.
Based on observation and research, Yeoh agreed that most victims choose to keep quiet to save their marriage and protect their kids.
She said the government was committed to ensuring that victims were comfortable to report on violence if it were to happen to them or their family members.
“There is a suggestion by the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) to amend the existing act to ensure that family members are automatically listed as victims when an interim protection order or emergency protection order (IPO/EPO) is issued.
“Therefore, if a mother or a child was abused, WAO has suggested that we should protect all family members.
“Another suggested to remove the abuser from the household.
“This (suggestion) would be considered in the special committee to tackle domestic violence cases.
“It will be chaired by the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (strategic) (Dr Hishammuddin Mohd Hashim),” she said.
Responding to a question from Natrah Ismail (PH-Sekijang) who requested for statistics of domestic violence victims nationwide, Yeoh said a total of 340 cases involving 316 women victims and 24 men had been reported to the Social Welfare Department as of June this year.
According to the statistics, the state that recorded the highest incidence of domestic violence was Selangor with 91 cases or 27 per cent, followed by Pahang (56 cases or 16 per cent) and Kedah (34 cases or 10 per cent).