KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 30 — Domestic violence cases nationwide dropped by 11 per cent this year, said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s women’s development department deputy director-general, Che Azizah Che Rashid.

She said based on police records from January to September this year, there were 3,673 domestic violence cases as compared to 4,123 cases during the same period last year.

However, she said in previous years, statistics showed an increase in cases, beginning with 3,173 cases in 2010; followed by 3,277 (2011); 3,488 (2012); and 4,123 (2013).

“Among factors contributing to the decline in cases are the ministry’s ongoing awareness campaigns and public awareness to report such incidents to the police,” she told Bernama at the Roundtable Discussion Programme with the East Zone Voluntary Welfare-Related Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) here today.

About 200 NGOs from Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang attended the programme organised by the ministry.

Che Azizah said previously, the public lacked awareness to report such incidents due to several factors, including shame or fear.

Police records also show cases increased annually in some states. For example, she said, in the Eastern Zone, Kelantan recorded an increase of 473 cases reported between January and September this year, as compared with 413 cases during the same period last year.

Terengganu recorded 177 cases this year as compared with 178 last year, while Pahang recorded 175 cases this year, to 165 last year.

In most cases, the motive behind domestic violence cases reported was infidelity, misunderstanding, financial problems and problems relating to children.

Che Azizah said the ministry always held various programmes to increase public awareness on domestic violence, aimed at providing protection to victims.

The hotline 15999 is for victims or the public to make complaints. — Bernama