Viral letter of deceased Sibu woman triggers call for stronger domestic violence support

SIBU (Jan 22): The circulation of a personal letter on social media has sparked public concern over an alleged case of prolonged domestic abuse after a young woman died at Sibu Hospital.

Sarawak Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government II, Datuk Michael Tiang, expressed deep concern and said he is closely monitoring developments.

“All forms of domestic violence – whether physical, verbal, emotional, or psychological – are serious social issues that must never be ignored or treated as private family matters,” he said in a statement.

The Pelawan assemblyman added that the case underscores the need for greater public awareness, early intervention, and accessible support services for victims.

He noted that Sibu will soon establish a Community Social Support Centre (CSSC) as a one-stop hub for social intervention, referrals, and crisis response, to provide basic intervention services, case management, referrals to government agencies, healthcare institutions, and NGOs, as well as temporary accommodation for victims of domestic violence.

Planned initiatives also include women empowerment and skills training programmes, community mental health services, youth and children activity spaces, a community food bank, soup kitchen projects, and social enterprise facilities, aimed at strengthening long-term community resilience.

Tiang urged anyone experiencing domestic violence, including physical abuse, verbal threats, or psychological intimidation, to seek help immediately via hospital One Stop Crisis Centres (OSCC), Talian Nur hotline at 15999, the Social Welfare Department, police, or Pelawan Service Centre at 012-760 9822.

Public concern intensified after the younger sister shared on social media a letter written by her late sister before her death on Jan 18 at age 22.

Addressed to their father, the letter reportedly detailed years of alleged physical and emotional abuse faced by the sisters at home.

According to her sister, the letter was the deceased’s final wish to be made public, highlighting their suffering and calling for accountability.

The heartfelt disclosure has since gained widespread attention and prompted calls for stronger community support systems and enhanced protection for victims of domestic abuse.