KUCHING: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KWKM) will enhance the role of community leaders in helping to combat domestic violence, especially involving women in this country.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said that the matter was emphasised under the ‘MyDirectory’ Programme and was now in the planning process with the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) and the respective state governments.
“Our ministry has requested that the scope of activities we are referring to such as domestic violence, sexual harassment should mostly be referred to community leaders.
“This is because it is customary whenever something happens in the village such as violence, husband and wife fighting, they will refer to the community leader.
“So it is important that we give guidance to community leaders to emphasise on the matter,” he said.
She said this during a press conference after officiating at the Semarak Skuad Waja Programme at the UCSI Hotel here yesterday.
In line with this, she pointed out that community leaders are the fastest middlemen who will refer to the authorities if there are any cases, especially in the village area.
Commenting on the management of MyDirectory, Nancy said her side will work with the State Welfare Department since it also involves activities under welfare.
Therefore, through the exposure of such a programme, she believed that the effort could empower awareness among the community.
“Most villages do not want their problems known by outsiders, so this is what prevents them from reporting violent crimes.
“So it is important for community leaders to know the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on how to refer and bring this case to the police,” she said.
