The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has approached the Attorney-General’s Chambers to narrow down the definition of marital rape.

"This is very much a legal matter, so we prefer the legal authority to come in," the minister, Rohani Abdul Karim, said at a Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) event in Kuala Lumpur today.

Rohani was there to officiate the launch of WAO's 2015 report on domestic violence.

She said the definition of marital rape right now is too contested and so the ministry was waiting for the attorney-general to define it clearly.

However, she said, she believes marital rape can be prevented, largely through marriage courses.

"If they undergo courses and there is understanding between the husband and wife, (then this wouldn't happen)," Rohani said.

Hence, she strongly encourages couples to undergo counselling and marital courses.

Rohani also said her ministry would have to do research on how many cases there are of "what is called marital rape."

Injury during sex is a crime

On June 10th, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nancy Shukri revealed that the current law does not recognise marital rape , keeping Section 375 of the Penal Code as it is.

"That is, intercourse between husband and wife in a legal marriage that remains in force is not considered rape," Nancy ( photo ) said.

There is also no proposal to amend the law as it stands, she said.

However, Nancy added, if a husband injures his wife during sex, then that is considered a crime under Section 375A of the Penal Code.