This paper examines the concept of slow violence as depicted in a Malaysian Chinese writer Li Zishu's novel "Vulgar Ground" (流俗地). The novel, set in Malaysia from 1969 to 2018, tells the story of Gu Yin-xia, a blind woman who works as a telephone operator and faces various forms of invisible and gradual violence that erode her well-being. These include familial and societal expectations, a rape that goes unaddressed, and her exploitation by the media, which turns her into a symbol without offering her real support.

The paper argues that Yin-xia's suffering is caused by a network of oppressive forces that are difficult to pinpoint, making it a prime example of slow violence. It also critiques the media's role, as a form of slow violence, in sensationalizing her story and the broader implications of biased media representation. It concludes by suggesting that while the novel is not a tragedy, it presents a slow violence that is pervasive, unattributable, and often unnoticed, offering a profound insight into the Malaysian Chinese experience and the complexities of power and suffering.