The Malaysian police force will work to increase the percentage of women police officers from 12 to 15 percent, rather than the 30 percent goal for other federal jobs. Federal police Director of Management Datuk Kamarudin Md Ali explained the smaller increase, “We will still want more men than women in the police force as women have certain limitations in relation to the job,” reports Star Publications Malaysia.
The Ministry for Women and Family Development in Malaysia has urged the police to increase the number of female personnel at police stations nationwide as soon as possible, reports Utusan Malaysia. Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said that the presence of female police officers could help victims of abuse, domestic violence and sexual crimes lodge reports in more detail and without embarrassment. Currently, women make up only 12 percent of the 86,000-person police force. Half of the 730 police stations in Malaysia have female personnel in their stations.
LEARN MORE: Visit the FMF National Center on Women and Policing
