A Lifetime of Building Communities: The Story of Tan Sri Eddy Chen
Few individuals have shaped Malaysia’s real estate landscape as profoundly as Tan Sri Eddy Chen. At 72, the group managing director of MKH Bhd remains a driving force in the industry, balancing corporate leadership with a deep commitment to social housing and policy reform. His journey—from the humble beginnings of his family’s fruit-selling business to transforming Kajang into a thriving urban hub—reflects a career built on vision, resilience, and an unwavering belief in real estate as a catalyst for economic growth.
Chen’s influence extends far beyond MKH’s developments. Over four decades, he has held pivotal roles in organizations like Rehda Malaysia, PR1MA, and the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association, advocating for policies that strengthen the housing sector. His leadership during the 1997 Asian financial crisis was particularly transformative. As Rehda president, he championed the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC), a groundbreaking initiative that revived the market by offering stamp duty waivers and flexible financing. The HOC’s success—generating RM3.8 billion in monthly sales—proved the sector’s potential as an economic engine, a lesson Chen believes remains relevant today.
Beyond policy, Chen’s legacy is etched into Kajang’s urban fabric. In the 1980s, he co-led the redevelopment of the town’s old district, a bold RM200 million privatization project that included government offices, markets, and commercial spaces. “We built half of Kajang,” he recalls with pride. Under his stewardship, MKH expanded across the Klang Valley, delivering over 50 projects ranging from affordable housing to transit-oriented developments. Yet, Chen’s focus has always been broader than profit. During his tenure as PR1MA chairman, he streamlined the agency’s projects to prioritize affordability, embodying his belief that housing is a social good, not just an asset.