KUALA LUMPUR: Being denied money for clothing, reprimanded over online purchases or forced to rely entirely on a partner for personal needs are among the situations that may constitute economic abuse within a household.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said domestic violence extended beyond physical and emotional abuse to include economic control, which could affect a victim's well-being and self-confidence.
She said this form of abuse warranted attention as it could occur in everyday situations, such as when a partner failed to provide money for basic family necessities or controlled personal spending, leaving the victim without financial autonomy.
"For example, a husband returns home expecting his wife to prepare a meal. If she is not working and has no money of her own, and he fails to provide funds for household necessities, how is she supposed to cook?
"Another example is when a wife wants to buy clothes but does not have the means to do so, leaving her unable to shop like other women. If she orders items online, she may end up being scolded by her husband. This is a common occurrence and has become a new challenge in life today," she said during an appearance on Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara programme here last night.
Nancy said such financial control could strip victims of the freedom to make decisions about their own needs, particularly if they had no income or access to funds.
According to her, police statistics showed an increase in domestic violence cases, from 5,507 in 2023 to 7,016 in 2024 and 7,391 in 2025, with 5,278 cases recorded from January to August this year.
"Domestic violence can take various forms and occur in different situations, but the challenge arises when victims choose to remain silent and do not seek help. In some cases, even after lodging a report, they later withdraw it out of fear," she said.
In this regard, Nancy said the ministry provided various forms of support to help victims escape abusive situations and rebuild their lives, including counselling services, intervention measures and financial assistance to attend court proceedings if necessary.
She stressed that addressing domestic violence was also vital to protect children who witnessed abuse at home, as such experiences could influence how they viewed family relationships as they grew older.
"We do not want children who witness such behaviour to grow up and repeat it because they have come to view it as normal," she said.
Nancy therefore urged the public not to treat domestic violence as merely a private family matter, but to report any known or suspected incidents by calling Talian Kasih at 15999 or sending a WhatsApp message to 019-2615999.
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