PETALING JAYA: To her friends, Linda (not her real name) seems to have it all a steady job, a successful manager husband, athletic teenage children and a beautiful home in the suburbs.
But behind her smile, lies a painful secret that only very few in her family know she is in an abusive relationship with her husband.
He did not physically abuse her. But his incessant hurtful comments throughout the years, often calling her names and blaming everything on her, have left psychological scars.
Diagnosed as having obsessive compulsive disorder for cleanliness, Linda's husband expects her to accommodate his needs and will berate her over the most trivial matter like piling up of the laundry.
Worse, her two sons who look up to their father are following his example and verbally abuse their mother, thinking that it is a normal thing to do.
She is not alone.
It has been reported that 7,246 cases of domestic violence had been referred to the Counselling and Psychological Division of the Social Welfare Department since it was set up in 2002.
Soon, spouses like Linda's husband will not be able to get away with their abuse after amendments to the Domestic Violence Act come into force.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie said the amendments approved by Parliament recently were expected to be implemented by the end of next year.
Another big step is to prohibit the offender from inciting a third party from committing domestic violence against the victim, which can include spouse, former spouse, children, an incapacitated adult and any other member of the family.
“This means that the spouse cannot hire gangsters to harass their victims.
“Usually, the husbands will get thugs to harass and intimidate their wives.
“The gangsters will be the only ones arrested but the husband gets away scot-free.
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