What can I do?

If you are being abused, here are some actions you can take:

You can go to any police station to lodge a police report.
In the police report, write down the details of how your spouse/partner abused you. The report can be in any language. Write as clearly as possible and include dates and times of abuse.
The front desk Police Officer will then refer you to an Investigation Officer (IO) in the Sexual Assault Unit of the district police station where you lodged your complaint.
The IO will take down the details of the incident; this is called a police statement which is used for investigating the case.
You should pay for and keep a copy of the report documenting the incident for your own record: the report costs RM4.00.
Should you fear for the safety of yourself and your children or face threats from your spouse, you can inform the IO that you would like to obtain an Interim Protection Order (IPO). If the IO agrees that you should have an IPO, (s)he will give you a referral letter. Take this letter to the Welfare Department (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat) who will then issue you with the IPO.
You can ask for the IPO to cover other members of your family, especially your children, should you fear also for their safety.
The IO will summon the abuser (the suspect) for investigation and take his statement.
If you want to remove your belongings and you are too frightened to go home, you can request that the IO sends police officers to accompany you to pick up your belongings.

If you are injured, go to the Accident & Emergency Department of the nearest government hospital for medical treatment. You will be treated in a private room called the One Stop Crisis Centre.
If there is a police counter, tell the Police Officer that you are a victim of domestic violence and are seeking medical treatment; they will give you a ‘Form 59’ which is for the doctor to record the injuries.
It is not necessary for you to obtain a medical report. If you wish to do so, you have to pay RM40 and the report could take up to two months before it is sent to you.
If the violence happened at night and you have nowhere to go after medical treatment, you can request the Staff Nurse to let you stay overnight in the casualty ward.

You can contact any women’s organisation like WCC for help. We provide immediate counselling during this crisis period.
WCC’s social worker can accompany you to the police station, hospital, and welfare department if necessary.
WCC can provide temporary shelter, a peaceful place where you and your children can stay, away from the violent environment you have just left.
If you feel you and your children’s lives are getting increasingly violent, plan NOW for an emergency. Always have a safety plan.

If the IO assesses that you need an IPO, you should go to the Welfare Department in your district with the referral letter from the police.
The Welfare Officer will help you write a report and file it in the Magistrate’s Court.
The Welfare Officer will fix an appointment for you to go to the Magistrate’s Court to apply for an IPO.
The Welfare Officer will call your husband/spouse to organize counselling if necessary.

The magistrate will interview you about your case.
The magistrate will issue five copies of the IPO; each department involved will receive one and the police will serve a copy on the abuser.
When you get a copy of the IPO, photocopy it and keep both copies of the IPO in a safe place.
According to police procedures, the IPO must be served on the abuser within 7 days.

If the abuser continues to harass you, you can lodge another police report and inform your IO to take further action.
Remember to check whether your IPO is still valid. If not, you have to go through the whole process again to get a new Protection Order (PO).