KUALA LUMPUR: A bill to amend the Domestic Violence Act 1994 (Act 152) will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow for its first reading.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the bill seeks to address wider issues of domestic violence.
"The amendment is needed to address some weaknesses in the current Act, as well as the rise in cases of domestic violence," she told reporters after the Bridge to A Better Life programme held at Laman Wanita in MaTic here, today.
She said the amendment will not only apply to abused wives, but also husbands and family members, including in-laws.
"Basically, under the amendment, (the Act will cover) everyone in the family,” Rohani said, adding that domestic violence is not just about physical abuse, which leaves physical evidence, but also emotional abuse.
"(It can be) much deeper, what we called ‘psychosocial’. For example, divorce via WhatsApp application.
"We will discuss it in detail tomorrow, but we hope that the bill will be able to reduce cases of domestic violence in all aspects," she added.