Early intervention key in rescuing domestic violence victims, say cops

Early intervention from the public is crucial in ensuring that victims of domestic violence receive the assistance they need, according to Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan. He emphasized that time can be a matter of life and death for these victims, hence the importance of neighbors and the general public taking action if they suspect someone is being abused. Comm Datuk Hussein pointed out that the traditional belief that domestic violence is a private matter must be changed.

From January to August of this year, Selangor reported the highest number of domestic violence cases in Malaysia, with a total of 813 cases. Women constituted the majority of victims with 352 cases, followed by relatives and siblings with 177 cases, and men with 121 cases. Out of these cases, there were 593 incidents causing injury, 153 intimidation cases, and 49 cases of committing mischief.

With 147 reported cases, Gombak was the district in Selangor with the highest number of domestic violence incidents from January to August. Kajang followed with 91 cases, and Petaling Jaya with 79 cases. Conversely, Shah Alam, Sabak Bernam, and Sungai Buloh recorded the lowest number of cases with 21, 25, and 26 respectively.

Comm Hussein highlighted three recent domestic violence cases in August and September that resulted in the death of victims in Serdang, Kajang, and Petaling Jaya. The first case involved a boy who was abused by his mother and her boyfriend. The second case concerned a husband who abused his wife, while the third case involved a man who beat his father to death. Comm Hussein stressed the urgency of changing the mindset of “minding your own business,” as prolonging these victims’ suffering puts them in greater danger. He also acknowledged that one of the main challenges faced by law enforcement in investigating such cases is the delay in reporting.

According to Comm Hussein, delayed reporting makes it difficult to gather evidence in domestic violence cases. Therefore, prompt reporting is necessary to ensure a thorough investigation and provide effective support to the victims.