Police officers who fail to take complaints on domestic violence seriously may soon face disciplinary action.

This was the guarantee given today by Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to MCA Wanita during their meeting at the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman.

Wanita MCA chairperson  Heng Seai Kie said Khalid told them to lodge a report directly with Bukit Aman if any police officer was apathetic to case of domestic violence reported.

"He was very supportive and pledged to remind and instruct all police stations to accept and act on every complaint on domestic violence seriously. Those who fail to follow these orders will face disciplinary action," Heng said in a press statement.

During the one-and-a-half-hour dialogue session, Wanita MCA also agreed to help draw more Malaysian Chinese into the police force and to promote the safety of women.

The police will, in response to this pledge, take part in MCA’s policy and welfare committees.

The police have been accused of being inadequate in enforcing laws on domestic violence cases and some even looked at such complaints lightly, as " merely domestic quarrels ".

Although a criminal act is punishable by law, only 8.22 percent or 817 out of 9,938 cases of domestic violence that have been reported have seen conviction.