A Visionary’s Legacy: How Jeffrey Cheah Redefined Nation-Building Through Enterprise
Few leaders embody the spirit of national progress as profoundly as Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah, whose five-decade journey with Sunway Group has reshaped Malaysia’s urban and economic landscape. Recognized at the StarProperty Awards 2025 for his unparalleled contributions, Cheah’s story transcends business success—it reflects a lifelong commitment to community, sustainability, and education. His humility was evident as he credited his 20,000-strong team, proving that true leadership thrives on collective achievement rather than individual accolades.
From its humble beginnings in 1974, Sunway Group weathered financial storms, including the 1986 downturn and the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, emerging stronger each time. Cheah attributes this resilience to core values—Integrity, Humility, and Excellence—which he insists are more than slogans but the bedrock of stakeholder trust. Today, Sunway stands as a Southeast Asian powerhouse with three publicly listed companies and a market cap surpassing RM40 billion. Yet, Cheah’s vision extends beyond balance sheets; it’s about nation-building through transformative projects like Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, a thriving township born from a derelict mining site.
Education lies at the heart of Cheah’s legacy. Sunway City KL hosts three universities, reflecting his belief that corporations must uplift the communities they serve. His ambition? To cultivate a “Harvard of the East” and foster a knowledge-driven society. By 2026, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation will have disbursed over RM1 billion in scholarships, underscoring his philosophy that prosperity must be shared. “The longer I live, the more I will give,” he quipped, embodying a generosity that defines his leadership.