Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2017

‘Sinners’ need protection from domestic violence too, Amanah MP explains

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Malay Mail Online 

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 ― Government must protect victims of violence and abuse even for those deemed to be sinning under Islam, Parti Amanah Negara MP Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said today after proposing that cohabiting couples be recognised as households.

Under fire from fellow Islamists for her suggestion in Parliament, the Kota Raja MP said domestic violence and cohabitation among unmarried couples are two different issues that must be handled separately.

“It is the responsibility of the government to give protection towards victims of violence and abuse even if they commit sins. These two issues must be separated.

“If we rely on the premise that sinners do not have the right to be defended, that goes against Islam and also human rights,” said the chief of Amanah’s women’s wing AWAN. Read more →

A wife’s body is her own’

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News 

PETALING JAYA: Social activist Marina Mahathir has denounced Setiu MP Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh for condemning women who repel sexual advances from their husbands.

“A man does not own a woman’s body when he marries her any more than she owns his,” she said in a comment on a recent speech Zulkifly made in the Dewan Rakyat.

During a debate on domestic violence on Tuesday, Zulkifly said women who denied their husbands sex were subjecting them to psychological and emotional abuse.

Speaking to FMT, Marina said the MP was proving that marital rape was a problem in Malaysia. Read more →

Should the Domestic Violence Act protect cohabiting couples?

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 ― Two civil society groups said the latest amendments to the Domestic Violence Act 1994 should have covered cohabiting couples who suffer abuse at their lovers’ hands.

Sisters In Islam (SIS) and Women Aid Organisation (WAO) said relying on the Penal Code for cases as such was insufficient as it did not provide protection like the Act does.

“The law should be able to give a blanket protection to all domestic violence survivors and acknowledge that dynamics between married spouses are similar regardless of their marital status,” SIS told Malay Mail Online when contacted yesterday. Read more →

Domestic abuse: Public caning not the answer

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: FMT News 

PETALING JAYA: Lawyer-activist Nik Elin Nik Rashid has rejected public caning as a form of punishment for abusive husbands, calling it a form of torture.

Speaking to FMT, she said it was more important to educate society and men to be civilised and to respect their wives.

“Teach men that violence shows a lack of power and self-control. Especially towards their wives.

“Whipping them publicly is not the answer,” she said. Read more →

Welfare officers will be empowered to protect domestic violence victims, minister says

Nur Farzana Md Yusof

Source: The Malay Mail Online

PUTRAJAYA, July 18 — Some 1,600 Welfare Department (JKM) officers will be empowered to issue an Emergency Protection Order (EPO) to provide immediate protection to victims of domestic violence, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

She said it was among five reforms included in the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2017 which was expected to be tabled for the second and third readings in Dewan Rakyat at the next Parliamentary sitting.

Through the amendment, she said, authorised officers are empowered by JKM director-general to issue ex-parte temporary order effective for one week to protect domestic violence victims during a state of emergency.

“Currently all JKM officers are in the midst or have undergone the relevant course. The ministry wants all JKM officers in the field to be well-trained,” she told reporters at a briefing session on the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2017 to media practitioners here today. Read more →