Exploration Why Women Stayed in Domestic Violence: Police Office Malaysia (PDRM) Perspective

Domestic violence is a gender-related issue that consistently garners the attention of security authorities in Malaysia. The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) serves as the frontline agency for receiving and handling cases of domestic violence under the 1994 Domestic Violence Act (amended in 2012). To date, empirical research exploring the factors that lead women to remain in the cycle of domestic violence is still limited, despite the indirect negative impact on children. The aim of this study is to delve deeper into the factors that motivate women to continue living in situations of domestic violence. A qualitative research approach using a case study design was employed, involving eight investigation officers (IOs) from State and District Police Departments in Kelantan, Sarawak, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Selangor, and Bukit Aman. The study participants were interviewed face-to-face in a semi-structured format, and the interview data was transcribed verbatim. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis with NVivo 12 Plus software. Six themes emerged: (i) love to the husband, (ii) woman (DV) lack of income, (iii) marital status, (iv) fear of losing custody of children, (v) sharing with the husband in business, and (vi) weak family support systems. Recommendations for empowerment activities to raise women’s awareness and support them in leaving domestic violence situations are also discussed in this article.