The recent reports of rising domestic violence cases in Malaysia should concern all of us.

Police statistics show that 7,391 domestic violence cases were recorded nationwide in 2025, compared with 7,116 in 2024. The figure stood at 5,507 in 2023 and 6,540 in 2022.

At first glance, the figures appear to show a clear upward trend. But there is an important question that deserves closer examination:

Are more people actually experiencing domestic violence, or are more victims now reporting incidents that previously remained hidden?

The distinction matters.

The figures represent cases reported to and recorded by the police. They are not a measure of every incident of domestic violence occurring in the country.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has itself acknowledged that many cases may go unreported. Fear, threats, financial dependence and a lack of shelter can prevent victims from coming forward. Some victims may also withdraw their complaints after reconciling with their partners.

Therefore, an increase in reported cases could have several explanations. There may indeed be more violence. But it could also reflect greater awareness, improved access to assistance, a greater willingness to report and more effective identification of abuse.

The 2023 figure is also a useful reminder not to interpret the numbers too simply. Reported cases fell from 6,540 in 2022 to 5,507 in 2023, before rising sharply to 7,116 in 2024 and 7,391 in 2025. This variation suggests that reported cases alone cannot tell us precisely what is happening to the underlying prevalence of domestic violence.

What is needed is better information.

Authorities could consider complementing police statistics with regular population-based surveys that anonymously ask people whether they have experienced physical, psychological, sexual or economic abuse, regardless of whether they reported it to the authorities.

Such surveys would provide a better indication of the actual prevalence of domestic violence and whether it is changing over time.

The issue is also broader than physical assault.

Domestic violence can include threats, humiliation, intimidation, controlling a person’s movements and relationships, financial control and other forms of psychological abuse. The increasing use of digital technology has also created new ways of controlling a partner.

In many cases, therefore, violence may not begin with a physical attack. It may start with behaviour that appears less serious — excessive control, insults, threats or financial restrictions — and gradually become more severe.

This suggests that prevention should begin much earlier.

Young people should be taught that disagreements within a relationship are normal, but intimidation, threats and violence are not acceptable ways of resolving them. Relationship education could cover communication, anger management, financial responsibility, respect for personal boundaries and recognition of early warning signs of abusive behaviour.

Healthcare workers, counsellors, teachers and community organisations could also be trained to recognise these warning signs and provide information about available assistance before a situation escalates.

Support for victims remains essential. The establishment of PRISMAnita as a one-stop intermediary for referral, intervention, support, information and advocacy is a positive development. But its effectiveness should ultimately be measured by whether victims can obtain timely protection and appropriate assistance, rather than simply by the number of people who use the service.

There is another group that should not be overlooked. Of the 7,391 cases reported in 2025, 1,961 involved male victims — about 26%. Domestic violence should therefore not be viewed solely through the lens of gender. Women remain disproportionately affected by many forms of severe violence, but every victim should have access to appropriate protection and support.

The immediate priority should therefore be twofold: make it easier and safer for victims to report abuse, while also finding out how much violence remains hidden.

An increase in reported cases should not automatically be interpreted as proof that society is becoming more violent. It may partly mean that victims are becoming more willing to speak up.

But if the underlying level of violence is also increasing, we need to know that too.

Better data would allow the authorities to answer the most important question: Are we seeing more reports, more violence, or both?

(Wong Soo Kan is council member, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing, Selangor, chairman of FMM Safety and Health Committee)