Rina said the ministry for women, family and community development was aware that some police personnel still refuse to accept reports lodged by victims of domestic violence, citing it as a family matter.

“The (medical) report from the hospital can be used so that police cannot refuse to accept the report lodged by the victim,” she told the media after launching the book titled “Wanita Bangkit” here today.

Rina said the welfare department would be able to issue an emergency protection order to separate the couple if there was abuse.

She said this when asked to comment on a complaint by a small group of domestic violence victims that certain police personnel had refused to accept their reports because it involved a family matter.

Rina said her ministry would also bring up the matter during engagement sessions with the home ministry.

“For issues like this, there is a Sexual, Women and Children’s Investigations Division (D11) unit that is under the police. We will include this matter in future discussions,” she said.

On the book “Wanita Bangkit”, Rina said it contained 34 true stories based on the experience of clients of agencies under the ministry, with a narrative that would motivate women no matter what they had gone through.

The book was produced in cooperation with the ministry through the Social Institute of Malaysia and Akademi Bonda Nor. It is on sale at a promotional price of RM35.