KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) marked a historic milestone in the real estate sector with the launch of its inaugural Property Surveying Awards 2026. Held at the KLGCC Convention Centre, the ceremony saw 14 distinguished recipients, spanning both individuals and organisations, honoured for their exceptional contributions to the profession.
VPC Alliance Kajang Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Mani Usilappan took the Property Valuation Surveyor of the Year award while Burgess Rawson Management Sdn Bhd chairman Wong Kok Soo and CBRE | WTW group advisor Foo Gee Jen walked away with the Property Management Surveyor of the Year and Property Agency Surveyor of the Year awards respectively.
The Intangible Asset Valuation Surveyor of the Year award was won by Khong & Jaafar Group managing director Elvin Fernandez and Knight Frank Malaysia was announced the Property Surveying Firm of the Year winner.
Recognising the government sector, the JPPH Branch of the Year title went to JPPH Seberang Perai while Kuala Lumpur City Council won the Local Authority of the Year award and the Corporate Body of the Year was Permodalan Nasional Bhd. The Public Service Property Surveyor of the Year award was taken by National Property Information Centre (Napic) director Norhisham Shafie.
The Academic Institution of the Year title went to Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and the Academia Property Surveyor of the Year title went to Prof Dr Ting Kien Hwa.
KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd group chief executive officer Datuk Salem Kailany took the Corporate Property Surveyor of the Year award while Philanthropist Property Surveyor of the Year title went to Rahim & Co Chestertons executive chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman. And finally, the ESG Hero Property Surveyor of the Year was won by Zerin Properties founder and group chief executive officer Previndran Singhe.
Graced by Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, the awards were held in conjunction with the 33rd National Real Estate Convention (NREC). The event served as a high-profile platform to unify the profession and showcase the diverse roles property surveyors play in Malaysia’s nation-building.
Redefining the brand
The Awards are designed to bridge a significant gap in public perception. Historically, the profession has navigated a complex identity, evolving from general practice surveyors to property consultancy and valuation, before arriving at the streamlined and modern nomenclature: Property Surveying.
Addressing the common confusion among the public, RISM deputy chair Khaidzir Abdul Rasip highlighted that the roles of valuer, estate agent and property manager are not separate entities, but specialisations under the single, multi-faceted umbrella of Property Surveying.
"Today, as we celebrate the award recipients, we are not just honouring excellence, we are rewriting the narrative of our profession," said Khaidzir. "Until now, the need to explain and defend our roles in society has existed. These awards serve as a beacon to show the nation who we are, what we do, and why property surveying matters."
The 14 award categories were meticulously curated to reflect the entire industry ecosystem, from private practice to academia and the public sector. The accolades recognised expertise in:
- Property valuation
- Property management
- Property agency
- Intangible asset valuation
To ensure the highest level of prestige and credibility, the recipients were selected by an independent panel of esteemed judges, comprising leaders from various affiliated professional bodies.
By bringing these trailblazers into the limelight, RISM aims to educate the masses and create a genuine brand nomenclature that defines the profession in a single phrase.
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