PETALING JAYA: Human rights groups have welcomed the government’s acknowledgement that one in four domestic violence victims in Malaysia are men, saying the issue has long been overlooked due to stigma and cultural norms.
North South Initiative executive director Adrian Pereira said many male victims remain reluctant to seek help or report abuse because of societal expectations surrounding masculinity.
“Society has put a different form of stigma on men when it comes to coming forward, sharing or reporting what they have experienced at home,” he said when contacted.
Pereira said patriarchal attitudes often discourage men from speaking out but stressed that recognising male victims should not detract from efforts to protect women.
“It doesn’t mean men are more vulnerable than women, but together, we must make sure the home is a safe space for all regardless of gender,” he said.
He also called for greater support for male victims, which should include establishing support groups, providing better training for community leaders to identify signs of abuse, and improving sensitivity among local authorities and social welfare officers when handling such cases.
“People need to be trained and educated not only to identify early indicators of abuse but also to understand the cultural blind spots that can lead to violence against men,” he added.
Recently, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry revealed that male victims made up about a quarter of domestic violence cases, comprising 1,961 of 7,391 cases reported nationwide last year.
Human Rights Commission of Malaysia commissioner Melissa Akhir said the issue must be viewed within the broader context of gender-based violence, noting that women and girls accounted for 73.5% of the 7,381 domestic violence cases recorded last year.
She said domestic violence remains one of the most pervasive forms of violence against women and is often driven by unequal power relations, gender stereotypes and economic dependence.
At the same time, Melissa said male victims also require protection and support, particularly older men who are vulnerable to abuse by younger family members.
“Domestic violence against males is mostly against older men, where younger abusers wield power and control over vulnerable victims,” she said.
