Refuge for abused women in Malaysia

Alia, aged 39 years old, is from the northern Malaysian state of Kedah, which about 6 hours away from Kuala Lumpur. She came to WAO’s shelter in January 2019 with her 9 year old son, Azmi, to escape her abusive situation.  She had endured physical and emotional abuse by her husband throughout her marriage of 14 years. Multiple police reports were made against her husband for domestic abuse but the police in Kedah chose not to take any action. 

In November 2018, her husband hit her multiple times with a metal pipe and threatened to kill her. She had suffered not only tremendous physical injuries but the mental torture of living in fear for her life was unbearable. Alia had then filed a police report but the police dismissed the abuse as a household matter. They encouraged her to talk things out with her husband amicably.

In December 2018, Alia's husband held a knife to her son’s throat and threatened that he will take his life if she refused to give him her money.  A police report was made but again, the police did not take any action. Countless times the system had failed Alia and her son Azmi from the protection they deserved. Alia was resilient and wanted to break free from the cycle of violence and to save herself and her son’s life. She wanted a chance at a happier life. She had heard of Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) through a friend and had immediately made contact to seek help from her abusive situation. Alia had called the WAO hotline and within 2 days, she and her son were on their way to Kuala Lumpur by bus heading to WAO’s shelter.

Alia and Azmi arrived safely to WAO’s shelter in January 2019. With the help from WAO’s amazing team of social workers, the police in Kedah re-opened their investigations in February 2019. Alia’s husband was finally arrested and charged in court for domestic violence in May 2019. Alia and her son Azmi were also granted a protection order by the court. 

Alia enjoys cooking and her dream is to open a restaurant oneday. Under the Sustainable Development Program at Women’s Aid Organisation whereby residents at the shelter are encouraged to enrol into developmental programs to learn new skills or enhance their skills to further support their new life away from violence. Alia was enrolled as a kitchen apprentice in a café and she was recently accepted as a permanent staff. She has started preparing dishes for customers and she is reported to be happy working there. Her self-confidence has increased tremendously and she experiences peace of mind at all times in her safety and her son's safety. Her son Azmi, has been going for child therapy to support him in his anger and resentment towards all the abuse and to channel his anger in a healthier manner. He is doing well and has made new friends. Both mother and son are thriving.