KUALA LUMPUR: There is currently no dedicated system under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to track repeat offenders in domestic violence cases.
Its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic) said the matter was among key issues raised during inter-agency discussions involving the police, the Health Ministry and judicial authorities on the handling of such cases.
She said the lack of records also posed a challenge in efforts to better protect the victims.
“We raised the same question. There is no record for us to identify repeat offenders or victims.
“There may be reports, but the information cannot be disclosed,” she told a press conference yesterday.
Nancy said the ministry would propose the creation of a mechanism to record repeat offenders to strengthen victim protection, especially for women.
“We will request that these measures be considered as part of a record system to assist women,” she said.
She also said the discussions focused on improving standard operating procedures and addressing weaknesses in the current system.
“We are not discussing specific cases but how we can improve the current situation, including gaps in procedures and laws,” she said.
Describing domestic violence as a serious crime, Nancy said repeat cases were particularly concerning and required stronger intervention.
Police data showed reported domestic violence cases have been rising over the past three years, with 5,507 in 2023, 7,116 in 2024 and 7,391 last year.
“These are reported cases, but the actual numbers could be higher as some cases go unreported,” she said.
Nancy said victims often fail to report incidents due to fear, a lack of support, or concerns about shelter and financial stability.
“There are those who have nowhere to go or no income to support themselves and their children,” she said.
She also expressed her disappointment on how some victims chose to retract their reports after initially filing complaints.
Nancy urged victims to come forward and seek assistance, adding that support services are available through shelters, counselling and the Talian Kasih hotline at 15999.
She said the ministry would continue strengthening advocacy while expanding safety-focused programmes.
“We will be more aggressive, not only in awareness and economic empowerment but also in safety,” she said, adding that proposals would be submitted to relevant agencies to strengthen enforcement and speed up case handling.
