Domestic violence cases up by 42% last year, says Rina

Ministry deputy director-general Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff reading Rina's speech at the Skuad Waja @ Johor launch.

JOHOR BARU: Some 7,468 domestic violence cases were reported to police last year – a 42% increase from 5,260 in 2020, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.

"According to police statistics, domestic violence cases have been increasing by the day and there was a significant increase last year.

"The same goes for sexual crimes, which saw an increase of about 3% with 3,271 cases last year against 3,177 the previous year.

"The new normal following the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on many as their movements were limited and this had emotional and mental effects," she said in her speech at the launch of Skuad Waja @ Johor at Taman Sinar Harapan here on Sunday (Feb 13).

She noted that Skuad Waja was set up to help victims of domestic violence seek help and also to increase awareness of the issue of violence against women.

"Skuad Waja volunteers were given training such as basics in psychology to help them play a role in getting victims to seek professional help.

"To date, we have 123,731 volunteers nationwide since its establishment last year. Skuad Waja has been able to reach out to some 6,837 people and attended to 945 cases so far," she said.

There were 8,886 volunteers in Johor alone, including 159 men, she added.

"In Johor, the volunteers have provided psychosocial help to some 1,113 people through 84 programmes. They have also been able to attend to some 52 reported cases and given support in various forms," she said.

Her speech was read by ministry deputy director-general Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff.