GEORGE TOWN: A total of 350 support service centres known as First Support Points (FSP) have been established statewide to help victims of domestic violence in the state.
State Women and Family Development Committee chairman Chong Eng said the FSP is run by trained individuals from government departments, religious institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community organisations involving all state elected representatives' service centres.
"This is part of the efforts under the Safe Family Policy that was introduced in 2020 when cases of domestic violence increased during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
"The policy was launched to increase public awareness of domestic violence, early prevention and support that can be channeled to victims," she said at the launch of the Penang Goes Orange (PGO) campaign here today.
The PGO campaign involving all five districts in Penang, which had already started earlier, will last for 16 days, until Dec 11, with the Penang Women's Development Corporation (PWDC) as the implementing agency.
It is in line with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is celebrated on Nov 25.
At the event, two Rapid buses in the PGO2022 campaign livery were launched as well.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the state government had always been proactive and concerned with creating a safer Penang.
"The PGO2022 focuses on three main elements — to raise awareness of gender-based violence, to give information on the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act and to promote the First Support Point programme and the Penang Stops Violence app," he added.