Penang: The Penang government is planning to increase the number of individuals trained to handle domestic violence cases, known as First Support Points (FSPs), said State Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim. She highlighted that FSPs serve as the initial line of support, ensuring confidentiality and efficiently referring domestic violence incidents to the relevant agencies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lim Siew Khim stated, “We have trained over 500 FSPs and will continue to expand the programme,” during a recent interaction with reporters. The Penang Stop Violence app, a collaborative project between the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) and the state government, has been instrumental in connecting domestic violence survivors with FSPs. This app has achieved international recognition, securing first place in Category C10: Ethical Dimension of the Information Society at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025.

Lim further emphasized the state government’s dedication to expanding the initiative and looking into more technology-based solutions that prioritize public safety and well-being. “The state government remains committed to expanding the initiative and exploring more technology-based approaches that prioritize the safety and well-being of the people in our effort to create a better and safer Penang for all,” she added.

The WSIS Prizes, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with United Nations (UN) agencies, aim to recognize information and communication technology projects that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).