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In the first event of YBAM Sarawak SLC in 2022,
certified and registered Malaysian Psychological
Counsellor, Mok Soo Ching, was invited to share
with 50 attendees on what to do in the situation
of domestic violence. Buddhist community leaders
might face situations where the members bring up
social problems or seek help from them, making it
important to know how to help the victims in the first
place.

Mok Soo Ching commenced the session by raising
a few myths and interacting with the participants
to make them reflect on these aspects: types of
violence, gender, education level and the victims’ 主讲人莫淑清。
voices. She added that there is a cycle of domestic Mok Soo Ching, the speaker.
violence: the explosion period, the honeymoon
period and the tension period. If the violence occurs
without a proper resolution, the victim will remain in
this cycle.

The main cause of domestic violence is disparity of
power, as one partner wants power and control in the
family, using violence to take control of the situation.
Teacher Mok also shared that domestic violence
is not a personal problembut rather a reflection of
the whole community. If the community shares the
relevant values, it will acquiesce to domestic violence. 莫淑清讲解如何支援家暴受害者。
Mok Soo Ching explained how to support the victims of domestic violence.
The useful tips on how to support victims of domestic
violence include: endure and start over.
3. Do not make any decisions for the victim and do
1. Find a quiet space where the victim can talk to you not expect him/her to make a decision quickly.
in private. 4. Do not suggest that the victim negotiate with the
2. Trust and support the victim, telling him/her that abuser.
he/she is not at fault. 5. If the victim has left home, do not tell anyone the
3. Respect the victim's need for confidentiality. location of his/her new residence without permission.
4. Ensure the victim's safety.
5. Be aware that the victim's background, ethnicity, As a leader or organisation or helper, we should
language and cultural barriers or immigration status provide the victim with the 4 elements of peace:
may compound the problem. physical safety, emotional safety, peace of mind and
6. Accompany the victim to the police station if peace of contact (provide social worker or after-care
necessary. support).
7. If the victim needs medical attention, take him/her
directly to the emergency and trauma department of At the end of the talk, retired Associate Professor of
any government hospital. Social Work at the University of Sarawak and founder
and training committee member of Sarawak Women
In addition to these, the speaker also reminded the for Women Society, Dr Ling How Kee, expressed her
audience things they should not do as follows: hope that there would be more activities to help the
abusers, work on the root causes and prevent more
1. Do not blame or ask the victim what he/she did to people from being violently treated. In addition, Dr
cause domestic violence. Lim called on various religious groups to provide
2. Do not take violence lightly, do not advise the some hidden shelters for the victims of domestic
victim to forgive the abuser or advise the victim to violence.

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