Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling (Hakka) is the founder and chairman of The Sunway Group
of Companies in Malaysia.
Jeffrey Cheah was born in Pusing
, a small town outside of Ipoh
in Perak
. He had his secondary education at SMK Sultan Yussuf
in Batu Gajah
before leaving to pursue his tertiary education
at the Footscray Institute of Technology (now Victoria University
) in Melbourne
, Australia
. He began his career as an Accountant in a motor assembly plant in Malaysia, but soon left it to venture out on his own. In 1974, he founded what is today the Sunway Group of companies.
The Group’s flagship development, the 350-hectare Bandar Sunway
, is one of South East Asia’a best known tourist destinations. Located 20 minutes from Kuala Lumpur
, this fully integrated resort township was virtually “resurrected” from a derelict strip of ex-mining land. The rehabilitation and transformation of the landscape has won the township many international awards, including being adjudged the world’s best leisure project by FIABCI
(International Real Estate Federation, Paris) in 2002.
Sunway Campus. These institutions were later placed under the Sunway Education Trust Fund which has not only given out scholarships worth RM50 million to date, but has reinvested all the profits from Sunway University College and 70 per cent of the profits from Monash University Sunway Campus into these two universities. The profits serve to upgrade facilities and ensure students benefit from a higher quality of education
.
Under Cheah's leadership, the Sunway Safe City Initiative was implemented. This initiative, which was launched in 2001, has proven extremely effective in combating crime
. A partnership between the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF), the Selangor State Government and the Sunway Group, it has reduced the crime rate and infused the township with a spirit of togetherness and neighbourliness that now serves as an example for other residents’ association throughout Selangor
. In recognition of Tan Sri Jeffrey's meritorious contribution in the field of social safety and security, he was appointed the Chairman of MCPF Selangor Chapter by the Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts & Heritage in Aug 2008.
In July 2008, he was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia
(AO) in recognition of his extraordinary and meritorious contribution to the advancement of education in Malaysia and for "service to Australia-Malaysia bilateral relations".
In appreciation of his contribution to Monash University Sunway Campus, the Monash University School of Medicine was named after him in 2007. In 2006, His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor
installed Cheah as the Foundation Chancellor of Sunway University College.
was established by Cheah in 1986 with the mission of providing more and better education opportunities to youths. By 1997, the College has become very viable and profitable business. It was at this juncture that Cheah took the decision to transfer all his personal shares and ownership of the College into the newly established Sunway Education Trust Fund. By doing so, he has ensured that all profits derived from Sunway University College, which is fully owned by the Trust, and its share of profits from the jointly owned co-venture in Monash University Malaysia, are ploughed back into the upgrading of facilities and human resources.
The Trust also presents deserving students with scholarship
s worth more than RM 1 million annually. To date, more than RM23 millions worth of scholarships have been disbursed. In 2007, the School of Medicine was named after him.
Cheah was voted ‘Property Man of the Year (Malaysia)’ in 1993 and ‘CEO of the Year (Malaysia)’ in 1996. And most recently, in 2005, he received ‘Asia’s Most Innovative Chinese Entrepreneur Award.’
Honorary doctorates from leading universities:
Doctor of the University from:
1. Flinders University
, Southern Australia
(1994)
2. Victoria University, Australia (1993)
Doctorates of Law from
3. Leicester University, United Kingdom
(1996)
4. Monash University, Australia (1995)
Doctorates of Education from:
5. University of Western Australia
(1994)
6. West Michigan University, USA
(1994)
7. Oxford Brooks University, United Kingdom (1998)
Doctorate of Business Administration from:
8. Greenwich University
, United Kingdom (2001)
Distinguished Appointments
1. Chairman, Malaysian Industry- Government High Technology for Construction and Housing (MIGHT) – Appointment by Prime Minister (1995)
2. Director, National Productivity Centre - Appointment by Minister of Trade (1990)
3. Council Member, Higher Education Council of Malaysia – Appointment by Minister of Education (1996).
4. Executive Council Member, Malaysian Tourism Action Council – Appointment by Minister of Tourism (1996).
5. Council Member, Financial Reporting Foundation – Appointment by Minister of Finance (1997)
Social and Welfare Organizations
1. Vice President, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (2002)
2. Honorary Chairman, Sin Chew Foundation (2000)
3. Founding Trustee, Malaysian Liver Foundation (1999)
4. President, Malaysian Hakka Association (1997)
5. Honorary Member, Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce (2002)
6. Chairman & co-founder of Asian Strategy And Leadership Institute (ASLI)
Awards
1. Paul Harris Fellow Award
2. Fellow Australian Society of Certificate Practising Accountants
3. Fellow of Institute of Directors
4. CEO of the Year Award
5. Property Man of The Year (FIABCI, Malaysian Chapter)
Royal Conferments
Sunway Group
Sunway Group also known as Sunway Holdings Incorporated Berhad commenced operations in 1986, mainly to develop the Bandar Sunway township in Petaling Jaya...
of Companies in Malaysia.
Jeffrey Cheah was born in Pusing
Pusing
Pusing is a small town in Perak state, Malaysia. It is located near Batu Gajah, Perak's capital-Ipoh, Papan, Siputeh and Lahat.Pusing located about 5 km from Batu Gajah town, 14 km from Ipoh city. The Sunway Group's Founder and Chairman, YBhg Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr...
, a small town outside of Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
in Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
. He had his secondary education at SMK Sultan Yussuf
SMK Sultan Yussuf
SMK Sultan Yussuf is a high school located in Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia. The senior principal is Zainal Abidin Ahmad Sanee.- History :The school was established as a small private school in 1907, and was founded by Malai Perumal Pillay, a local merchant. It was difficult to persuade the parents...
in Batu Gajah
Batu Gajah
Batu Gajah is a town located in the state of Perak in Malaysia, about 24 km from Ipoh, the Perak state capital.-Origins and History:...
before leaving to pursue his tertiary education
Tertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
at the Footscray Institute of Technology (now Victoria University
Victoria University, Australia
Victoria University is a multi-sector tertiary institution based in Melbourne, Australia with 10 campuses.VU offers qualifications in higher education, vocational education , and short courses...
) in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He began his career as an Accountant in a motor assembly plant in Malaysia, but soon left it to venture out on his own. In 1974, he founded what is today the Sunway Group of companies.
Sunway Group
Established as a small tin-mining company with a paid-up capital of 100,000 Ringgit, the Sunway Group has grown to become one of Malaysia’s most widely recognized and diversified conglomerates.The Group’s flagship development, the 350-hectare Bandar Sunway
Bandar Sunway
Bandar Sunway is a township in between Petaling Jaya and Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. It is situated in the district of Petaling, Selangor. It is a 5 to 10 minutes drive to Subang Jaya, UEP Subang Jaya, Puchong and other suburbs and townships of Petaling Jaya...
, is one of South East Asia’a best known tourist destinations. Located 20 minutes from Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, this fully integrated resort township was virtually “resurrected” from a derelict strip of ex-mining land. The rehabilitation and transformation of the landscape has won the township many international awards, including being adjudged the world’s best leisure project by FIABCI
FIABCI
FIABCI the International Real Estate Federation, was founded in 1949 by the French asset manager Mr. Pierre Colleville. It was registered as a non-profit professional organisation in Paris on 2 June 1951. It is the only worldwide real estate association that represents all of the real estate...
(International Real Estate Federation, Paris) in 2002.
Corporate Responsibility
Cheah set up Sunway University College and Monash UniversityMonash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
Sunway Campus. These institutions were later placed under the Sunway Education Trust Fund which has not only given out scholarships worth RM50 million to date, but has reinvested all the profits from Sunway University College and 70 per cent of the profits from Monash University Sunway Campus into these two universities. The profits serve to upgrade facilities and ensure students benefit from a higher quality of education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
.
Under Cheah's leadership, the Sunway Safe City Initiative was implemented. This initiative, which was launched in 2001, has proven extremely effective in combating crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
. A partnership between the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF), the Selangor State Government and the Sunway Group, it has reduced the crime rate and infused the township with a spirit of togetherness and neighbourliness that now serves as an example for other residents’ association throughout Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
. In recognition of Tan Sri Jeffrey's meritorious contribution in the field of social safety and security, he was appointed the Chairman of MCPF Selangor Chapter by the Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts & Heritage in Aug 2008.
In July 2008, he was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO) in recognition of his extraordinary and meritorious contribution to the advancement of education in Malaysia and for "service to Australia-Malaysia bilateral relations".
In appreciation of his contribution to Monash University Sunway Campus, the Monash University School of Medicine was named after him in 2007. In 2006, His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor
Sultan of Selangor
Sultan of Selangor is the title of the constitutional ruler of Selangor, Malaysia.-Bugis bloodline:The Sultans of Selangor are descended from a Bugis dynasty that claim descent from the rulers of Luwu in the southern part of Celebes...
installed Cheah as the Foundation Chancellor of Sunway University College.
Sunway University College
Sunway University CollegeSunway University College
Sunway University is a university in Malaysia. The university offers postgraduate and undergraduate programs, and has a support system for international students. The campus has more than 120 classrooms and 15 lecture halls. It was founded in 1987 as Sunway College and upgraded to Sunway University...
was established by Cheah in 1986 with the mission of providing more and better education opportunities to youths. By 1997, the College has become very viable and profitable business. It was at this juncture that Cheah took the decision to transfer all his personal shares and ownership of the College into the newly established Sunway Education Trust Fund. By doing so, he has ensured that all profits derived from Sunway University College, which is fully owned by the Trust, and its share of profits from the jointly owned co-venture in Monash University Malaysia, are ploughed back into the upgrading of facilities and human resources.
The Trust also presents deserving students with scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
s worth more than RM 1 million annually. To date, more than RM23 millions worth of scholarships have been disbursed. In 2007, the School of Medicine was named after him.
Cheah was voted ‘Property Man of the Year (Malaysia)’ in 1993 and ‘CEO of the Year (Malaysia)’ in 1996. And most recently, in 2005, he received ‘Asia’s Most Innovative Chinese Entrepreneur Award.’
Honorary doctorates from leading universities:
Doctor of the University from:
1. Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
, Southern Australia
Southern Australia
The term southern Australia is generally considered to include the States and territories of Australia of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory...
(1994)
2. Victoria University, Australia (1993)
Doctorates of Law from
3. Leicester University, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
(1996)
4. Monash University, Australia (1995)
Doctorates of Education from:
5. University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
(1994)
6. West Michigan University, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(1994)
7. Oxford Brooks University, United Kingdom (1998)
Doctorate of Business Administration from:
8. Greenwich University
Greenwich University
Greenwich University is a controversial distance learning institution, originally founded in 1972 in Missouri , trading from 1990 to 2003 in Hawaii--1998 to 2003 under separate ownership--and from 1998 to 2002 in Norfolk Island...
, United Kingdom (2001)
Distinguished Appointments
1. Chairman, Malaysian Industry- Government High Technology for Construction and Housing (MIGHT) – Appointment by Prime Minister (1995)
2. Director, National Productivity Centre - Appointment by Minister of Trade (1990)
3. Council Member, Higher Education Council of Malaysia – Appointment by Minister of Education (1996).
4. Executive Council Member, Malaysian Tourism Action Council – Appointment by Minister of Tourism (1996).
5. Council Member, Financial Reporting Foundation – Appointment by Minister of Finance (1997)
Social and Welfare Organizations
1. Vice President, National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (2002)
2. Honorary Chairman, Sin Chew Foundation (2000)
3. Founding Trustee, Malaysian Liver Foundation (1999)
4. President, Malaysian Hakka Association (1997)
5. Honorary Member, Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce (2002)
6. Chairman & co-founder of Asian Strategy And Leadership Institute (ASLI)
Awards
1. Paul Harris Fellow Award
2. Fellow Australian Society of Certificate Practising Accountants
3. Fellow of Institute of Directors
4. CEO of the Year Award
5. Property Man of The Year (FIABCI, Malaysian Chapter)
Royal Conferments
- Conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS, carrying the title of “Dato’”) by DYMM Sultan Selangor Darul Ehsan, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah Al Haj on 8 March 1988.
- In 1995, made Justice of the Peace (JP) by DYMM Sultan Terengganu Darul Iman, Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Al-Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah.
- Conferred the Dato’ Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP, carrying the title of “Dato’ Seri”) by DYMM Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Sultan Azlan Shah Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah Shah in April 1996.
- Sunway students are proud of him.
- Conferred the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM, carrying the title of “Tan Sri”) by DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agung ke-Sepuluh, Tuanku Ja’afar Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman on 1 June 1996.