COMMENT | Siti Zailah is clueless about domestic violence

COMMENT | One afternoon, when I was about 13, my family was startled by the shouts of an angry man and a woman’s terrified screams outside our house. We rushed out as did all our neighbours.

The enraged man was yelling at the woman while repeatedly smashing her with his helmet. She had fallen on the road and was crying and screaming for him to stop as he towered above her. He continued bashing her even as she cowered and tried bravely to protect herself with her arms.

In the midst of the commotion, somebody recognised the pair as the married couple who lived in the kampung house at the end of our row. Everyone was stunned even as motorists began to slow down to watch the spectacle.

Trembling with horror, I rushed back into the house and dialled 999. A woman was being beaten up with a crash helmet. I was scared she was going to be terribly hurt or that she would die right in front of us.

When my call was answered, I gave my name and address and described the situation. To this day, I will never forget what was said to me: “If this is a domestic matter between a husband and wife, it’s not a police case.”

I’m not sure where I found the resolve to retort: “Okay, and if you don’t send the police, and if she dies, that’s on you...