‘I thought I was going to die,’ says woman abused by husband for 10 years

PETALING JAYA: A woman has opened up about the 10 years of abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband who used to constantly beat and burn her.

In a series of tweets, Izzati Rosdi revealed how she was abused by her former partner and suffered injuries, including a broken hand.

This was in light of the recent statement by Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff who said husbands should use a “gentle but firm physical touch” with “stubborn wives”.

Izzati tweeted: “There were times when I really thought I was going to die.

“If you have anger issues, please stay away from me.”

She added that apart from being physically beaten, she was also burnt with cigarette butts.

“I could continue to list the various abuses I have had to endure – but that will trigger some memories which I have already buried,” she said.

Izzati added that she had been abused since she was 16, and until today, is unable to watch scenes of physical abuse on television due to the trauma she experienced.

“Domestic abuse has no place in our lives. Period.

“There’s no such thing as gentle touches or what not,” she said.

On Feb 12, Siti Zailah uploaded a two-minute video advising husbands to physically “touch” their wives in a “soft but firm” way to reprimand them, which raised eyebrows and drew criticism online.

This soon drew flak from both the public and women’s rights groups condemning the "advice".