KUCHING: Sarawak recorded a worrying rise in domestic violence last year with 552 cases reported compared to 465 in 2023.
Women, Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said statistics from Sarawak police show that cases have increased, affecting both men and women.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, income, or background, she warned at the closing of the Breaking The Silence: Violence Prevention in Sarawak programme here today.
“For male victims, there were 178 cases in 2023 and 181 in 2024. For female victims, the number went from 287 cases in 2023 to 371 in 2024.
“These figures clearly show that domestic violence cases rose in 2024 compared to 2023 and the highest number of cases came from Kuching Division with 162 cases in 2023 compared to 190 in 2024.
“The second highest number of cases was in Miri, which saw a decrease from 131 in 2023 to 110 in 2024, and we certainly hope this downward trend will continue given the seriousness of the issue,” she said in her speech delivered by Deputy Minister Datuk Rosey Yunus.
Fatimah also stressed that violence manifests in many forms, including emotional manipulation that erodes self-worth, financial control that traps victims in dependence, and prolonged psychological impacts that can last a lifetime.
“These actions cut across societal boundaries, which is why it is so important to speak up about this issue.
“Too often, when we talk about violence, our minds go straight to physical violence. But mental violence can have an even deeper impact,” she said.
The two-day programme aimed to strengthen collaboration between the government, community, and private sector, raise awareness on issues such as domestic violence, child welfare, and women’s development, and formulate concrete actions based on stakeholder input.
