Kuala Lumpur, 8 March 2021 - In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2021, Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) bolstered its long-term strategic partnership with the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) with a commitment of RM2 million until 2022. In the next three years, YSD’s funding will help WAO push for the gender equality agenda and advocate for the enactment of laws to curb sexual harassment as well as gender discrimination in the workplace.

Speaking at YSD International Women’s Day (YSD IWD) 2021 virtual celebration, YSD Governing Council Member and Sime Darby Property Group Managing Director and Dato' Azmir Merican said:

“For more than a decade, YSD has worked with WAO for the protection and advocacy efforts for women survivors of domestic violence and their children. This collaboration has enabled WAO to reform various national policies and develop guidelines on setting up and operating domestic violence shelters. We are so proud to have been able to work alongside WAO all these years, providing our support wherever possible to their outstanding efforts in providing avenues of protection and justice against gender-based violence and discrimination for the women of Malaysia,” said Dato’ Azmir.

“This impactful partnership is in line with YSD’s Community & Health pillar strategy, as it supports initiatives towards national policy changes that protect the rights and well-being of the disadvantaged and marginalised,” he added.

To date, WAO has played a pivotal role in affecting change in various national policies including making amendments to the Penal Code under the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act 2017 and establishing domestic violence shelters in Kelantan, Sarawak, Selangor, Kedah and Perak.


Paying Tribute to Women Leadership During Times of Uncertainty

Every year on 8th March, the world recognises and celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of all women. Despite that, gender-based issues have become increasingly prevalent in today’s society with the reported rise in domestic violence during COVID-19 as well as an increase in stalking cases and workplace sexual harassment.

Organised in collaboration with WAO, the YSD IWD 2021 celebration showcased sharing sessions on domestic violence, stalking and sexual harassment in the workplace by women’s rights specialists including WAO Executive Director Sumitra Visvanathan. YSD’s partnerhsip with WAO is working towards the government’s endorsement to enact the Gender Equality Act, anti-stalking law and sexual harassment bill.

“With the tremendous support from YSD over the past decade, we have managed to work together to achieve new breakthroughs in gender equality and towards ending gender-based violence through directly supporting survivors, law and policy reform, and capacity building of frontliners and communities. We hope that this partnership continues to uplift women in Malaysia and create a more equal society,” said Sumitra.

This year, YSD honoured accomplished women leaders who have collaborated with YSD in various corporate social responsibility projects. Themed “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World", the event celebrated the tremendous efforts of women and girls within the community and around the world, in shaping an equal future for all as the world strives to recover from the pandemic.

Also featured was Prof. Dato’ Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Malaysia’s first Asian president to lead the International AIDS Society. She is also the Chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, another long-time project partner of YSD which is a leader in providing treatment for underprivileged HIV patients and conducting community empowerment initiatives for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Malaysia.

YSD ended the event by announcing the winners of ‘YSD Choose to Challenge’ social media photo contest that was held among Sime Darby employees, WAO’s GirlsTakeover network members and YSD scholars to support the movement of calling out gender bias and inequality, towards making this world more inclusive for all. For more information on YSD and their continuous efforts in championing equality and making the community a safer space for women, please visit: www.yayasansimedarby.com/our-projects/community-health.
Kuala Lumpur, 8 March 2021 - In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2021, Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) bolstered its long-term strategic partnership with the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) with a commitment of RM2 million until 2022. In the next three years, YSD’s funding will help WAO push for the gender equality agenda and advocate for the enactment of laws to curb sexual harassment as well as gender discrimination in the workplace.

Speaking at YSD International Women’s Day (YSD IWD) 2021 virtual celebration, YSD Governing Council Member and Sime Darby Property Group Managing Director and Dato' Azmir Merican said:

“For more than a decade, YSD has worked with WAO for the protection and advocacy efforts for women survivors of domestic violence and their children. This collaboration has enabled WAO to reform various national policies and develop guidelines on setting up and operating domestic violence shelters. We are so proud to have been able to work alongside WAO all these years, providing our support wherever possible to their outstanding efforts in providing avenues of protection and justice against gender-based violence and discrimination for the women of Malaysia,” said Dato’ Azmir.

“This impactful partnership is in line with YSD’s Community & Health pillar strategy, as it supports initiatives towards national policy changes that protect the rights and well-being of the disadvantaged and marginalised,” he added.

To date, WAO has played a pivotal role in affecting change in various national policies including making amendments to the Penal Code under the Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act 2017 and establishing domestic violence shelters in Kelantan, Sarawak, Selangor, Kedah and Perak.


Paying Tribute to Women Leadership During Times of Uncertainty

Every year on 8th March, the world recognises and celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of all women. Despite that, gender-based issues have become increasingly prevalent in today’s society with the reported rise in domestic violence during COVID-19 as well as an increase in stalking cases and workplace sexual harassment.

Organised in collaboration with WAO, the YSD IWD 2021 celebration showcased sharing sessions on domestic violence, stalking and sexual harassment in the workplace by women’s rights specialists including WAO Executive Director Sumitra Visvanathan. YSD’s partnerhsip with WAO is working towards the government’s endorsement to enact the Gender Equality Act, anti-stalking law and sexual harassment bill.

“With the tremendous support from YSD over the past decade, we have managed to work together to achieve new breakthroughs in gender equality and towards ending gender-based violence through directly supporting survivors, law and policy reform, and capacity building of frontliners and communities. We hope that this partnership continues to uplift women in Malaysia and create a more equal society,” said Sumitra.

This year, YSD honoured accomplished women leaders who have collaborated with YSD in various corporate social responsibility projects. Themed “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World", the event celebrated the tremendous efforts of women and girls within the community and around the world, in shaping an equal future for all as the world strives to recover from the pandemic.

Also featured was Prof. Dato’ Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Malaysia’s first Asian president to lead the International AIDS Society. She is also the Chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, another long-time project partner of YSD which is a leader in providing treatment for underprivileged HIV patients and conducting community empowerment initiatives for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Malaysia.

YSD ended the event by announcing the winners of ‘YSD Choose to Challenge’ social media photo contest that was held among Sime Darby employees, WAO’s GirlsTakeover network members and YSD scholars to support the movement of calling out gender bias and inequality, towards making this world more inclusive for all. For more information on YSD and their continuous efforts in championing equality and making the community a safer space for women, please visit: www.yayasansimedarby.com/our-projects/community-health.