JOHOR BARU: A total of 4,646 domestic violence cases were recorded nationwide up to July this year, says Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying.
She said that Johor accounted for 823 cases, which was a significant increase from the 518 cases recorded during the same period last year, highlighting the need for stronger prevention, early intervention and access to support services.
“Domestic violence often happens behind closed doors, but its impact is not only on physical safety. It also affects a woman’s dignity, self-confidence, emotional health and wellbeing,” she said in her speech at the Aku Wanita@KRT advocacy programme and PRISMAnita Johor Open Day 2026 held at a hotel in Seri Alam here on Saturday (Sept 12).
Lim added domestic violence was not limited to physical abuse but could also take the form of emotional, psychological, sexual and financial abuse, as well as excessive control over a person’s movements, life and relationships, including through digital platforms.
She said violence could begin with excessive control, threats, humiliation or financial control, which might initially be dismissed as normal behaviour, and urged the public to recognise the early warning signs and seek help before the situation worsened.
Lim added the Aku Wanita@KRT programme aimed to increase public understanding of domestic violence, raise awareness of available assistance channels and encourage people to act when they encountered situations requiring help.
“As of Aug 12, 11 programmes had been held in 11 states, involving 3,915 participants, while 267 participants had received support through K-Chat, a group psychological intervention involving survivors, counsellors and trained facilitators,” she said.
Lim also said the ministry had also introduced PRISMAnita – Perantara Rujukan, Intervensi, Sokongan, Maklumat dan Advokasi untuk Wanita – to provide women with faster and more systematic access to government and related agency services.
“Launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on March 10, PRISMAnita had served 117 clients nationwide as of Aug 5, while women in Johor could access the service through the Johor Women Development Office,” she added.
She said support for survivors should continue even after a crisis had ended, as domestic violence could also affect children’s emotional wellbeing, development and sense of security.
Lim added among the initiatives implemented by the Women Development Department were SARI@KRT, which focused on rebuilding survivors’ confidence, independence and wellbeing, as well as the MATAHARI, IRIS and Skuad WAJA programmes.
She stressed that efforts to end violence against women were not the responsibility of women alone, but required men, boys and the wider community to play their part.
Lim urged anyone experiencing domestic violence, or those who knew or suspected someone was affected, not to remain silent, adding that help was available through the 24-hour Talian Kasih 15999, WhatsApp at 019-261 5999, nearby police stations and hospitals, as well as psychosocial support through Pusat Sokongan Sosial Setempat.
