PARLIAMENT | Victims of domestic violence will soon be able to apply for protection order, even on weekends, with the passing of the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Bill 2017 by the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

The bill will provide, among others, power to Social Welfare Department (JKM) officers to issue temporary Emergency Protection Order (EPO) to such victims.

At present, such protection orders, namely the Interim Protection Order (IPO) and Protection Order (PO) are issued only by courts.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim said the EPO is aimed at protecting victims in emergency situation and it is an additional protection that could be applied at all state and district JKM offices, on top of the PO and IPO.

“The order can be issued by JKM officers through delegation of power by JKM director-general. So far, 754 JKM officers have attended briefings and training on the bill and the implementation of the EPO,” Rohani said when winding up the debate on the bill.

She said the application of the EPO could be made ex-parte by the applicant, without having to notify the abuser, requiring the presence of the abuser, lodging a police report or even going to court.

She said the EPO is valid for seven days and will be effective when the order is served on the abuser to prevent further violence on victims and children.

“Perpetrators who do not comply with the EPO will first face a fine not exceeding RM2,000 or six months in jail, or both. Secondly, a fine not exceeding RM4,000 or jail of not more than one year will be imposed for violating the EPO with the use of violence.

"For the second and subsequent violations, there will be a fine not exceeding RM5,000 or jail of not less than 72 hours and not more than two years,” Rohani said.

The bill, which was tabled for the first reading on April 3, also provides exclusive occupation of the marital home to the victim, while expanding the definition of domestic violence to include three more situations domestic violence can occur, namely misappropriation of the victim's property, criminal intimidation or humiliating the victim in any way, including via electronic means.

- Bernama