SUNGAI PETANI, May 2014 – Nine out of every 100 women in Peninsular Malaysia with a partner experienced domestic violence. This was proven by a group of researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and several agencies headed by a Women's Health Development Unit lecturer, USM School of Medical Sciences (SMS), Professor Dato’ Dr. Rashidah Shuib in their study on Domestic Violence Against Women (DVAW).

According to Rashidah, the key risk factors for the occurrence of DVAW are men who feel that they have the power to carry out violence on women who are considered the weaker gender.

“As a result of the World Health Organization Assemble Resolution 1996, the public was aware of the seriousness of this issue and also the issues of public health which is considered important and needs to be eradicated," said Rashidah while delivering a speech at the DVAW Public Seminar and Dialogue with Community organised by USM Women's Development Research Centre (KANITA) held here recently.

“This study was carried out from 2007 to 2011 and the facts produced are also a valid view of all the data available and is the result that each encounter is random, basing on statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia,” she added.

The said national level study was funded by the Research University (RU) Grant under KANITA while the dissemination and sharing of research findings with the community was funded by a special external grant known as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Grant.

Besides Rashidah, SMS Lecturer Dr. Sarimah Abdullah and Associate Professor Dr. Puzziawati Ab Ghani from Universiti Teknologi Mara, Shah Alam, also presented the results of the project.

“The forms of domestic violence are divided into three categories: the physical, the emotional and the sexual and these include intimidation with a weapon, threat to injure to elicit forced sex,” said Sarimah.

She added that more than 50% of men inflicted violence against women due to financial factors, family intervention, stress at work, and jealousy between the couple.

A dialogue with the community was also held and it was chaired by the lecturer of the School of Health Sciences, USM Associate Professor Siti Hawa Ali with a panel consisting of staff officer, Kedah Police Contingent Headquarters, ASP Doreen Chee Choon Lee; Penang Police Contingent Headquarters, Rizatulmi Haizaran Abdul Samat; Women's Centre for Change (WCC) Advocacy Officer, Melissa Mohd Akhir; Kuala Muda Welfare Officer Rohana Yusof; and Emergency Medicine specialist, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Dr Fatahul Laham Mohamed.

Also present were KANITA’s Director, Associate Professor Dr. Noraida Endut and several KANITA’s staff who were also co-researchers of the research project.

“I appeal to members of the public who see these cases to alert the authorities or recognised non-governmental organisations such as WCC, Women's Aid Organisation and One-Stop Crisis Centre that are established in the emergency department of each hospital," Rashidah pleaded. - Translation: Siti Faizah Abd Halim/Text & Photo: Nor Rafizah Md. Zain