In his current role as a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) member, Jerald Joseph is no stranger to the struggles of advocating change, including to champion equal opportunities for all Malaysians.

At a forum held in conjunction with the International Women's Day, Jerald revealed that his first experience with breaking the gender stereotypes started at his family home in Batu Kurau, near Taiping, as a young boy.

"My biggest struggle was to wash my own plate," he told the forum themed "Be Bold For Change", organised by the Sime Darby Foundation and held at its convention centre in Kuala Lumpur.

"My grandmother would be scolding and my mother would take my plate away from me," Jerald (photo) said, recalling a time when the role of women are confined to taking care of the home, family and children.

He added that it was only after a while that he was finally left alone and allowed to wash his own plate after a meal.

"I wasn't making a big statement. All the 12 uncles will still get up and leave the table but that was my start to breaking gender stereotypes - washing plates," said Jerald who noted that the biggest challenge could start at home.

Another speaker, Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) president Aishah Ahmad, said growing up as an only child with a very strict father had taught her to be independent from a very early age.

At the age of seven, she recalled, her father dropped her off her at the school's gate and told her to go register herself for the first day of Primary One.

She was also sent alone, for her first holiday abroad, in Medan, Indonesia, at the age of 12.

"He even asked me to do my checking-in myself. It was my first time on a flight.

"When I landed at the airport, when somebody waved, I will also wave to them. But thank God, I eventually met my family members (in Medan) and had a good time," she said.

At the beginning of her career with MAA more than 30 years ago, Aishah said, she had to personally push for changes in a working environment where both men and women were equally unconvinced by her capability to perform her duties.

SDF extends another RM1.5m to WAO

Fellow panellist Prof Teo Soo Hwang said the turning point for her path towards cancer research was when she received a scholarship to further her studies in Cambridge University.

Teo, who founded Cancer Research Malaysia in 2001, said this followed her stint as an Asean scholar in Singapore.

"There were 12 of us boys and girls living one apartment block, with minimal supervision.

"It's amazing that we turned up kind of normal," she quipped.

The panel, moderated by women's rights activist Low Ngai Yuen, also featured Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre co-founder Faridah Merican (photo).

Earlier, Sime Darby Foundation (SDF) announced that it has extended another RM1.5 million to continue its support for Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) until 2019.

This brings Sime Darby's total commitment to WAO since 2010 to a total of RM4.3 million.

"With domestic violence, in the past one did not even get much help from authorities, but now even the government is participating to curb this," SDF governing council member Zaitoon Othman said in her opening speech.

At a press conference later, SDF CEO Yatela Zainal Abidin also credited WAO for making a sustainable change in the lives of the marginalised.

WAO executive director Sumitra Visvanathan said SDF's support has been "critical" in helping the organisation achieve its vision over the years.

"SDF has been supporting WAO, to help provide that safe space alternative to living in a violent home. Their support to us has extended to beyond these shelters," Sumitra added.