Cheah (second from left) receiving his award from Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming (second from right) as Star Media Group chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng (right) and group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt (left) applaud.

A tribute to Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah’s life-long achievements

By Joseph Wong

On a night filled with glitz, accolades and milestones, the spotlight shone brightest on a man whose journey has become synonymous with Malaysia’s modern development story. At the StarProperty Awards 2025 gala dinner, held in conjunction with the event’s 10th anniversary, Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah received a special recognition award, an honour that celebrates not just his remarkable achievements but the legacy he continues to build through Sunway Group.

True to form

"I am indeed honoured and humbled to receive this recognition," he said during an interview with StarProperty, pausing to first congratulate StarProperty on its decade of dedication to real estate excellence. But true to form, Cheah redirected the spotlight: “This is not just a personal accolade for me but a recognition of the collective dedication, passion and hard work of my entire 20,000-strong Sunway team.”

That humility and focus on collective achievement are hallmarks of a leadership style rooted in values. Since Sunway’s inception in 1974, Cheah has led the group through an extraordinary five-decade journey. Today, Sunway stands as one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates, with three public-listed companies and a combined market capitalisation exceeding RM40bil.

Values are not just corporate slogans

“We almost went bankrupt twice,” he recounted candidly, referring to the economic turbulence of 1986 and the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. “But with much tenacity as well as our core values of Integrity, Humility and Excellence, we never failed to deliver any projects over the years.” These values, he believes, are not simply corporate slogans but the foundation upon which trust with stakeholders is built, a trust that has carried Sunway through volatile cycles and economic headwinds.

Yet, to reduce Cheah’s success to financial metrics would be to miss the soul of his story. A deeply reflective and purpose-driven leader, he sees his role as much more than that of a businessman. “Each and every one of us must have a higher purpose in life,” he said. “For me, this higher calling is a commitment to nation-building by giving back to society in a meaningful and impactful manner.”

It is this ethos that birthed one of the most transformative projects in Malaysian property history: The creation of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur. Built on a scarred, abandoned 800-acre mining site, the township is today a thriving integrated development that houses a community of more than 200,000, supported by institutions of higher learning, hotels, malls as well as Malaysia's largest private teaching and research hospital, among other residential and commercial components.

A defining moment

“When the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew visited Sunway City in 2004, he said, ‘This is what entrepreneurship is all about. You have transformed a wasteland into a wonderland.’” That moment, Cheah shared, was one of the most defining affirmations of his vision.

Indeed, his vision was never about building cities of concrete but communities of purpose. In Sunway City KL, and now in Sunway City Ipoh in Perak and Sunway City Iskandar Puteri in Johor, he is replicating an ecosystem that balances growth with sustainability, entrepreneurship with education and profit with purpose.

The keystone of that ecosystem is knowledge. Three universities in Sunway City KL stand as pillars of academic excellence within the township, but more importantly, they embody Cheah’s belief that “no corporation can live apart from the communities it serves.”

“My ultimate vision is to see the three universities working together to shape a more learned, progressive and inclusive society,” he shared, noting his dream is to turn Sunway University into the Harvard of the East even if he is no longer around to witness it. “Such an ecosystem will also strengthen the human capital we need if Malaysia is to achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation.”

By 2026, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation will have awarded more than RM1bil in scholarships and grants. "The longer I live, the more I will give!” Cheah said in good humour.

As the Malaysian property sector continues to evolve, he remains attuned to the shifts shaping the future. One of the most significant, he says, is the rise of integrated, transit-oriented developments that promote healthy, connected and sustainable living. “We are seeing more demand for developments that combine residential, commercial, education, leisure and healthcare components. Our Build-Own-Operate model is uniquely positioned to deliver this.”

But even as he looks to future growth and new frontiers, Cheah remains rooted in a deep belief in Malaysia’s potential. With the country entering 2025 on strong economic footing and chairing Asean during a critical decade for the region, he is optimistic: “I believe Asia is poised to be the engine of global economic growth and Malaysia is at the heart of this revival.”

Still, he acknowledges that challenges persist—social inequality, urban decay, climate concerns and youth unemployment among them. But his message remains clear: “We can and we will find a way to build a more progressive, sustainable and inclusive future for all under the Malaysian sun.”

Building cornerstones of legacy

As the evening drew to a close, amid handshakes and photographs, Cheah stood not just as a titan of property but as a teacher of principles. Through resilience, purpose and an unwavering belief in giving back, he has transformed more than just land—he has transformed lives.

As Malaysia’s property industry looks to the next decade, the torchbearers of tomorrow would do well to remember his advice: There are no shortcuts. Integrity, humility and excellence are not just ideals—they are the enduring cornerstones of legacy.

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