Liew on 36 years of evolution and the power of the collective

By Joseph Wong

When Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin stepped onto the stage at the StarProperty Real Estate Developer Awards 2026 to accept the inaugural StarProperty Real Estate Icon of the Year award, he carried with him the weight of a 36-year legacy. Yet, in a move that has come to define his leadership style, the property man often cited as the architect of modern Malaysian townships immediately turned the spotlight toward the next generation.

Despite the singular title of Icon, Liew was quick to clarify that the honour belongs to the engine room of Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld), specifically naming the leadership of executive director, president and chief executive officer Datuk Chang Khim Wah and executive director and deputy chief executive officer Liew Tian Xiong.

“Even though the award is given to me, you are actually giving it to them and the team,” Liew remarked with characteristic humility. “I may just be the old face or the old master of the group but in terms of workload, concept and branding, it is their work. They have done a very good job and I humbly accept this on their behalf.”

A bittersweet journey: 1990 to 2026

Reflecting on a career that began in 1990, Liew’s perspective on success is far from romanticised. To him, the path to becoming an industry icon is paved with crises rather than smooth transitions. Over nearly four decades, Liew has steered his ventures through at least four major global economic storms.

He described the journey as bittersweet, a term that resonates deeply in 2026 as the industry grapples with the volatility of the Iran war crisis and surging oil prices.

“No one can say their path to success was smooth. It’s never smooth,” Liew shared. “The bitter part is that you must go through so many ups and downs in life. But the sweet part is the success you feel in overcoming those difficulties and the fact that you are still standing. I’m very thankful that I’m still around after 36 years and hopefully, I’ll still be around for another 10 to 20 years.”

From humble beginnings to global landscapes

Born in the small town of Plentong, Johor, Liew’s journey from modest beginnings as the son of a lorry driver father and a rubber tapper mother to becoming one of Malaysia’s most successful property entrepreneurs is a testament to his resilience and vision.

After earning a Bachelor of Economics (Business Administration) from the University of Malaya, Liew began in banking with Asiavest Merchant Bankers (M) Berhad. The invaluable financial insights he gained there fueled his transition into property development, establishing his own venture in 1990.

Liew went on to transform SP Setia Bhd, leading the company as its president and chief executive officer for 18 years. It was during this tenure, in 2012, that he led a high-profile Malaysian consortium comprising SP Setia, Sime Darby Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund Board (EPF) to successfully acquire the iconic Battersea Power Station site in London, serving as the project's first chairman.

Building a massive footprint

Since its inception in 2013, EcoWorld has established itself as a leading developer under Liew’s guidance as executive chairman. Today, the group boasts a landbank of over 12,000 acres across the Klang Valley, Iskandar Malaysia, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, representing a total estimated gross development value (GDV) of approximately RM100bil.

The group's performance relies heavily on its five diversified revenue pillars:

• Eco Townships
• Eco Rise
• Eco Hubs
• Eco Business Parks
• QUANTUM

Liew also extended this philosophy internationally as executive vice chairman of Eco World International Bhd (now EWI Capital) from 2014 to 2025. Working alongside established global partners like the Ballymore Group, he helped deliver major UK landmarks including Embassy Gardens, London City Island and Wardian London.

Evolve or be left behind

For the younger generation of developers entering an increasingly crowded, high-tech market, Liew offered a stark reality check regarding the pace of modern business. In an era dominated by rapid AI integration and instant information, the moat around a good idea has never been thinner.

“What we do today, no matter how innovative, only has a six-month lag time,” Liew warned. “After that, everybody will change, innovate or even do better than you.”

His core message to the industry is a call for constant metamorphosis. According to Liew, the survivors in the property sector will not be those with the largest landbanks or the most capital but those with the highest adaptability quotient.

As the 2026 landscape presents a complex mix of geopolitical conflict and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Liew insists that stagnation is the only true failure. Whether dealing with the intricacies of AI-native townships or the supply chain shocks of international war, the strategy remains the same: evolution.

“The person who is standing today is the person who keeps on changing and evolving,” he concluded. “If you don’t change, you will be left far, far behind. The winner is eventually the one who can overcome these issues and evolve with the times.”

A legacy shared and honoured

Liew’s philosophy goes well beyond financial metrics; he views entrepreneurship as a vessel to transform society. This outlook directly shapes EcoWorld’s internal culture of teamwork and active succession planning. Furthermore, his dedication to social responsibility is championed through the Eco World Foundation which supports approximately 2,000 underprivileged students annually through education.

His career has earned him legendary status both locally and internationally, marked by milestone achievements:

• 2006: Conferred the Darjah Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), carrying the title Tan Sri.
• 2007: Named Property Man of the Year by FIABCI Malaysia.
• 2011: Named Malaysia Country Winner at the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (later serving as a global judge in Monte Carlo twice).
• 2013: Awarded Malaysia’s Outstanding CEO at The Edge Billion Ringgit Club.
• 2022: Appointed an Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for bridging UK-Malaysia trade and investment links.

Ultimately, Liew’s personal ethos is perfectly mirrored in EcoWorld's core vision: Creating Tomorrow and Beyond. As Liew accepts the mantle of StarProperty Real Estate Icon of the Year, his message serves as a timely reminder to the industry: a legacy is not built in the moments of peace but in the relentless drive to adapt when the world shifts beneath your feet.

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