Deputy women, family and community development minister Aiman Athirah Sabu said the number was based on police statistics, which showed 22,908 cases of domestic violence reported nationwide.

In 2021, there was a sharp increase in cases in the country to 7,468, compared with 5,260 cases in 2020.

The number dropped to 6,540 last year, the Sepang MP said after the launch of the Selangor-level Semarak Waja Squad 2023.

To address the issue, the ministry established the Waja Squad in 2021, which has drawn the participation of 328,558 members, consisting of 253,973 female and 74,585 male members.

“The Waja Squad acts as an agent of change to deal with violence against women in the community,” Aiman said.

There are 26,910 members in the Waja Squad in Selangor.

Aiman said 1,012 Waja Squad psychosocial programmes have been carried out in communities nationwide, with 72,942 people being treated.

“They also carried out 104 psychosocial programmes involving 12,506 people in Selangor.”

Aiman said the Waja Squad programmes had created a good synergy between the government and the community in dealing with violence against women.

She hoped the Selangor-level Semarak Waja Squad 2023 programme would continue to provide better awareness and protection to women from all forms of violence and discrimination.