The Social Welfare Department has handled 4,397 cases of domestic abuse involving female victims between the period of 2010 and 2016.

According to statistics unveiled by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim to Parliament, the highest number of cases were recorded in 2016, at 852 cases while the lowest number was recorded in 2013 at 477 cases.

"Any domestic conflict or challenges needs to be resolved in a proper manner without involve physical, psychological, emotional or mental violence.

"In order to address domestic abuse, the Domestic Violence Act was enacted in 1994," said Rohani.

Rohani said this in a parliamentary written reply to Pasir Puteh MP Dr Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad.

According to Rohani, her ministry has arranged for counseling sessions for domestic violence victims and advocacy programmes to create awareness on domestic abuse.

She added that her ministry had organised 104 legal literacy seminars between 2010 and 2016 to educate the public.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry also spent RM182,672 during the same period on a safe house for domestic abuse victims.