Case Five
Supported by
My name is Anna (not my real name). I am 37 years old and a mother of five children, aged 16, 15, 12, 8, and 7. My eldest child is currently attending school in Kuala Lumpur and staying with my sister.
I married my former husband at the Native Court in 2010. Before coming to the shelter, my family lived in a rented room in Kota Kinabalu, paying RM1,500 in monthly rent. My husband worked as a cook in Kota Kinabalu, earning RM2,800 per month, while I worked as a cook in a restaurant along Jalan Penampang, earning RM1,780 monthly. My work schedule was demanding, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and again from 11:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m.
In 2022, without my knowledge, my husband posted on Facebook that he had divorced me with talak tiga (triple talaq). On January 28, 2022, I filed for divorce at the Syariah Court. This decision was due to years of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse, as well as his involvement with another woman. Despite the divorce, my former husband continued to disturb me, including incidents of violence at my sister’s house.
My sister’s husband, originally from West Malaysia, allowed me to stay temporarily but did not interfere in my family matters. Eventually, my brother-in-law asked me to move out and packed my belongings. I felt deeply ashamed by these circumstances.
Seeking help, I approached the Welfare Department. Initially, I was sent to a shelter in Kingfisher, but as it could not accommodate my children and me, I was transferred to another shelter where I currently reside. I also requested protection for myself and my children from the Welfare Department and lodged two police reports this year regarding my husband’s violent disturbances. I also received hospital treatment due to physical abuse by my former husband.
Since filing for divorce, my former husband has continued to disturb me, even at my workplace. His constant presence made me feel ashamed in front of my colleagues. I eventually had to inform them that if anyone came looking for me, especially my former husband, they should not entertain him and instead tell him that I was busy with work.
The stress I experienced during this period was extremely high, but I forced myself to remain strong for the sake of my children. On several occasions, my former husband came to my workplace, and I chose to ignore him. As I do not own a car, he pretended to be supportive by offering to pick me up after work. However, there was an incident in which he physically abused me inside the car, leaving me helpless with no one to turn to for assistance. During that time, he pressured me to withdraw my divorce application from the Syariah Court, but I refused.
Because of his harassment, my social life became very limited. I could no longer freely spend time with friends or maintain normal social connections. His actions isolated me further, adding to the emotional and psychological burden I was already carrying. Despite all this, I continue to endure and remain resilient, as my priority is to protect and care for my children.
Currently, I am residing in the shelter. Here, I finally feel a sense of peace, knowing that my children are safe and provided with food and other necessities. For their schooling, I had to make special arrangements with the school management so that only a trusted friend was allowed to pick them up. Although it was difficult and made me feel ashamed to reveal my personal struggles, I did so for the safety of my children.
While staying at the shelter, I have been offered counseling sessions, which have helped me manage my emotional stress. However, due to my work commitments, I am not always able to attend regularly. Despite this, the support I receive has been valuable in helping me cope with my situation.
In early January, I attended a scheduled appointment at the Syariah Court. Unfortunately, the session did not go well because my husband refused to sign the divorce papers. He created trouble in court, and the judge was unable to proceed with the process. After the incident, I had to call my sister to pick me up, and together we drove to Kota Kinabalu. I was careful not to let my former husband know where I am currently staying. By evening, I returned to the shelter, where the staff listened to me and offered support. Expressing my feelings to them helped me feel better.
That same night, my biological sister and I went to the police station to lodge a report about the incident. I was deeply ashamed, especially as my clothes had been torn during the confrontation. The court has since postponed my case until April 2026.
Despite these ongoing struggles, I remain persistent and determined not to return to the abusive relationship. I continue to pray to Allah for strength and guidance, asking Allah to enlighten me as I endure these challenges. My case is still unresolved, but I am committed to protecting myself and my children and to building a safer future for us.
How to support this case:
Bank account details:
1. Bank name: Public Bank Berhad
2. Account number: 3196591718
3. Account name: Good Shepherd Services
4. Reference code: EQW05
OR contact krishaabavisi@equalworld.org to send a supportive message, or care package.