IN Penang, there is zero tolerance for domestic violence, leading to the establishment of the First Support Point platform in 2021.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim revealed that so far, 387 individuals have been appointed as ‘First Support Point’ officers to promptly assist domestic violence victims.
These officers are drawn from various entities, including state constituency service centres, the Women and Family Development Committee (JPWK), the Penang State Secretariat Office, the Penang Land and Mines Office and the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department across all the five districts in the state.
Earlier, Lim and the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) chief executive officer Datuk Ong Bee Leng presented 43 officers from the Penang State Secretariat Office, Penang Land and Mines Office and the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department with their appointment letters to spearhead the FSP initiative.
While 84 officers were appointed from the said departments, only 43 were able to make it to receive their letters of appointment.
“Domestic violence is not a new phenomenon today, and according to statistics from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), a total of 288 domestic violence cases were identified until September this year.
“Out of this number, 22% were male victims, while 78% were female victims.
“As a concerned state of its people’s well-being, the Penang government introduced the State Safe Family Policy in 2020 to address the issue of domestic violence in the state.
“It is through the formulation of this policy where the FSP was introduced, which also made Penang the first to ever introduce such an initiative,” Lim said in her speech during the brief letter of appointment handover ceremony in Komtar today.
Lim also stated that the FSP is a tripartite effort between the state government, community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Law Suun Ting