Founder and Chairman, Sunway Group
The renowned business tycoon has a significant impact in multiple sectors
Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah was recently honoured with the title “Sir” after being conferred the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by His Majesty King Charles III. A three-time Forbes Asia Hero of Philanthropy, Cheah is as a beacon of inspiration, deeply committed to education, healthcare, and sustainability.
Cheah is notably recognised for developing Sunway City Kuala Lumpur into a self-sufficient township and establishing the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Malaysia’s largest education-focused social enterprise. The recent establishment of Sunway Sanctuary marks a reimagining of the retirement community for the elderly, providing exquisite living spaces, remarkable facilities, curated senior activities, and exceptional healthcare.
A three-time Forbes Asia Hero of Philanthropy, Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah cuts an inspiring figure whose passion for education, healthcare and sustainable development runs deep. He’s responsible for founding a self-sufficient flagship township, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, which houses three universities, an international school, a public primary and secondary school, as well as a globally recognised medical centre.
In line with Sunway’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, it is also the first conglomerate in Malaysia, and among the first in Asia, to implement a carbon-pricing framework into its businesses. Today, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation is the largest education-focused social enterprise in Malaysia and to date, has awarded scholarships and grants amounting to RM618 million.
The foundation also established partnerships with top universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"My personal motto is: I aspire to inspire before I expire.”
Recognitions
Awards
2019
UK-Malaysia Business Personality Award—British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards
2019
Asian Leadership Award—20th Asian Association of Management Organisations’ Triennial Conference and Dinner
2019
Malaysia’s Exemplary Leader of Sustainable Development—EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards
2017
Asean@50 Lifetime Achievement Award—Asean Business Advisory Council Malaysia
1993
Property Man of the Year —FIABCI-Malaysia
Did You Know?
Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah harbours the dream that Sunway University will one day be known as the “Harvard of the East”.