‘Reporting domestic violence key concern in divorces’

0

KUCHING: The state registered 13,270 divorce cases between 2010 and 2014, according to statistics from the Sarawak Islamic Religious Department and National Registration Department.

From that figure, 8,215 were Muslim couples while 5,055 are non-Muslim couples.

Women, Welfare and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said some of these cases involved domestic violence, but the women concerned only make a police report if they were physically abused.

“The government is sympathetic to their plight, and in 2012 has amended the Domestic Violence Act 1994 to include psychological and emotional abuse. Previously, it only covered physical and sexual abuse,” she said.

Fatimah said that this was far from perfect.

“Although the Act has been in operation since 1996, it is not something to be proud of yet. For example, it takes between 24 hours to three months to get an Interim Protection Order for a victim of domestic violence.”

She said that they will discuss in another workshop next week whether Sarawak needs a protection centre for victims of domestic violence.

“We will discuss this and related issues, and how to proceed.”

SIS executive director Ratna Osman added that in some cases, gender-based violence is not considered a real crime.

“It is assumed to be household problems, and police find it hard to get involved although there is a court order to arrest the husband,” she told reporters.

Both Fatimah and Ratna were speaking to reporters at the ‘Know Your Rights: Women’s Rights in the Law’ workshop organised together with Sisters in Islam (SIS).

On another issue, when asked if the ‘finger rape’ case perpetrated by Bunya Jalong will be discussed, Fatimah said she hoped that it will be raised in the ongoing Parliament proceedings.

“I believe the amendment to broaden the definition of rape in the Penal Code Section 375 will be brought up in the current Parliament proceeding.”

The acquittal of Bunya, who impregnated a teenager with semen on his finger, caused widespread outrage.
The girl gave birth to his son in 2012.

Ratna said that SIS and 11 other joint action groups and NGOs for equality had been working hard with the ministry to broaden the definition of rape.

She also raised the topic of child marriages as big problems in the country.

“How can Malaysia be a developed country if we still have cases of nine-year-olds getting married off? How can we be a knowledge-based and successful society if our children can’t even at least complete their formal education?”