Support pours in for Malaysian actress Zahnita Wilson over alleged abuse
Zahnita Wilson alleges two decades of abuse at the hands of her husband, who has been arrested
Public outrage has erupted after Malaysian actress Zahnita Wilson posted photos on Instagram of a black eye which she alleges to be part of a two-decade pattern of abuse by her husband, in a country contending with what campaigners say is a hidden domestic violence problem.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the 41-year-old actress shared a photo of her bruised eye captioned with “This is why I sometimes wear sunglasses”.
Kuantan district police chief Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu confirmed that her husband – Abdul Zackery Ghouse – had been arrested under the Domestic Violence Act along with criminal intimidation, which can carry a penalty of up to 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
The post went viral, drawing solidarity from the public and celebrities, who condemned the abuse and called for greater support for survivors.
“You don’t and never deserve this ever, ever,” said fellow actress Sarimah Ibrahim on the post.
Zahnita, famed for 2003’s Gila-Gila Pengantin Remaja and Kuliah Cinta as well as gracing billboards as part of her modelling career, told local entertainment news agency Mstar that her previous pleas to the authorities over her abuses over the years had not been heeded.
