Kuala Lumpur, 8 September 2022 – Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) will be extending its sponsorship of RM2.4 million to the Women’s Aid Organisation’s (WAO) in support of their work over the next 3 years. This comes following the historic milestone of the passing of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021 through the work of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Coalition.

YSD hosted a luncheon today to celebrate the passing of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021, which was attended by the Deputy Secretary General (Strategic), Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Mr. Chua Choon Hwa; Member of Parliament YB Ms Hannah Yeoh; as well as the Senior Management representatives of Sime Darby Berhad, Sime Darby Plantation Berhad, and Sime Darby Property Berhad, in their support of efforts to bring about positive change in Malaysia.

“With the outstanding leadership and camaraderie displayed at parliamentary proceedings in taking forward the gender equality agenda, we are confident that KPWKM, supported by WAO and other key stakeholders, will ensure the continued development of legal frameworks and its effective implementation to improve the rights and wellbeing of Malaysians,” said Y.A.M. Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar, the Chairman of YSD.

“We have made tremendous progress towards gender equality and in ending violence against women over the decade long WAO-YSD partnership. There is still so much more to do and achieve together especially with the worrying change in attitude towards women's rights globally. WAO welcomes and looks forward to this new phase of our partnership with YSD and we will strive together to make Malaysia a better country for women,” said Sumitra Viswanathan, Executive Director of Women’s Aid Organisation.” said WAO Executive Director, Sumitra Visvanathan.

Previously from 2010 to 2022, YSD had been sponsoring WAO with a total commitment of RM6.3 million to carry out its advocacy work and disseminate the improved laws and policies that address gender equality, rights of women and violence against women, to communities throughout Malaysia.

In the new phase of funding for 3 years from January 2023 to December 2025, YSD will support WAO in working with all parties for the effective implementation and enforcement of laws, as well as following through with the work in progress of criminalising stalking, while engaging with frontliners and government agencies. WAO will also work on wider policy and awareness campaigns to eliminate domestic violence as well as gender-based violence in Malaysia. They will continue their efforts through strategic engagements with various key stakeholders including youth; as well as work in media public awareness campaigns, gender sensitive reporting, and gender responsive national budgetary cycles.