Over 9,000 domestic violence cases recorded since MCO began, Rina Harun tells Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat was told that a total of 9,015 domestic violence cases were recorded since the start of the movement control order in March 2020 until August this year.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun (pic) said based on the statistics from the police, the total number of cases it received dropped slightly in 2020 to 5,260 cases from 5,657 in 2019.

"For the period from March 2020 until December 2020, the numbers stood at 4,110 cases. From January and Aug 2021, it stood at 4,905, so there are a total of 9,015 cases recorded during the MCO period," she told Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria (BN-Parit) during Question Time.

Mohd Nizar had asked the ministry to reveal the number of domestic violence cases that had occurred since the start of the MCO period in March last year and assistance given to victims.

Rina said among the several initiatives taken to address the issue were providing hotlines to lodge complaints on domestic violence cases. They are the Talian Kasih 1599 and a WhatsApp number, 019-261 5999.

The hotline is available for 24 hours every day, she said.