PENANG is initiating a significant endeavour to combat the pressing issue of domestic abuse.
With the launch of the Safe Family Policy workshop today, this collaborative course with the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) is designed to empower officers with the essential skills and knowledge required to adeptly handle cases of domestic violence.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim emphasised the significance of the Safe Family Policy given the growing number of incidents of domestic abuse.
“As part of our commitment to offering comprehensive support to victims, the policy introduces the concept of First Support Points (FSPs), aimed at providing counselling services and facilitating connections with relevant agencies.
“The fight against domestic abuse is still ongoing. In Penang alone, 288 incidents were recorded between January and September last year,” said Lim during the opening of the Safe Family Policy workshop today.
Lim emphasised the importance of setting laws, such as the Domestic Violence Act (1994).
“To ensure the protection of victims’ rights within the legal framework, the Penang government, Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), and Kemban Kolektif have collaborated on these initiatives to address this pressing social issue,” added Lim.
PWDC chief executive officer Datuk Ong Bee Leng expressed her perspective and underscored the importance of community engagement in combating domestic abuse.
“To prevent violence within communities, I urge all sectors, from the public to the private, to actively engage in raising awareness and taking swift, effective action,” she said.
Eighty RMP officers will go through two days of training today and tomorrow (April 25 and 26) starting from 9am to 5pm to increase their ability to deal with domestic violence.
Also present were Assistant Commissioner Police (ACP) Liong Sau Lai, representatives of the Integrity and Standard Compliance Department (JIPS) and the Policewomen’s Management Development Committee (JPPPW) Penang Contingent, as well as Melissa Mohd Akhir and Suri Kempe from Kemban Kolektif.
Story and pix by Nurul Hawa Farahin Hameddy