F O U N D E R  &  C H A I R M A N ' S  P R O F I L E

TAN SRI DATO’ SERI
DR JEFFREY CHEAH, AO

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah Fook Ling is the visionary Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group. The Group, one of the most widely regarded and diversified Malaysian conglomerates known for its flagship development, Sunway Integrated Resort City, is located 20 minutes outside the nation’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur.

Sunway’s businesses span over 40 locations worldwide. Its core businesses include civil engineering and construction; property development and investment; building materials; trading and manufacturing; quarry; information technology; leisure, entertainment and hospitality; healthcare; and education.

Sunway Group encompasses two public listed companies namely Sunway Holdings Berhad and Sunway City Berhad. All Sunway companies remain steadfastly committed to upholding the various Corporate Responsibility programmes spearheaded by the Group.

An accountant by training, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah is passionately involved and active in both governmental and non-governmental organizations. He has been conferred eight honorary Doctorates by leading universities worldwide.

He is also among the four leading givers in the country who made Forbes Asia’s Hero of Philanthropy 2009.

In 2008, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) by the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd. The AO is one of Australia's most prestigious and highly respected awards conferred to a non-citizen of Australia. It is an order of chivalry first established by Queen Elizabeth II for the purpose of according recognition to Australian, for outstanding achievement or commendable service.

The conferment was in recognition of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah’s meritorious contribution to the advancement of education in Malaysia and service to Australia-Malaysia bilateral relations.

In 2007, the prestigious Monash University School of Medicine was named after him in appreciation of his immense contribution to Monash University Sunway Campus.

In 2006, HRH Sultan Selangor installed Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah as Foundation Chancellor of Sunway University College, which was established under a not-for-profit Trust Fund. The Education Trust Fund will soon transform into Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah Foundation which aims at bringing high-quality and affordable education to the community and the country.

Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr Jeffrey Cheah has been appointed Chairman of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation’s Selangor chapter by the Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts & Heritage in 2008. He is also the Chairman & Co-founder of Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI).

He was the Vice President of National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia in 2002; Founding Trustee of Malaysian Liver Foundation since 1999; President of Malaysian Hakka Association 1997-2004; and the first non-Malay Honorary Member of Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce since 2002.

In recognition of his contribution to education, he was, in 1996, appointed by the Minister of Education to the Higher Education Council of Malaysia, a body responsible for formulating higher education policies in Malaysia. The Minister of Trade appointed him Director of National Productivity Centre in 1990.

In 1995, the Prime Minister of Malaysia honoured him with the Chairmanship of the Malaysian Industry-Government High Technology for Construction and Housing (MIGHT).

He was also EXCO member of the Malaysian Tourism Action Council, an appointment by the Minister of Tourism Malaysia in 1996. The following year, the Minister of Finance appointed him a Council Member of the Financial Reporting Foundation.

Other awards bestowed upon him include the Paul Harris Fellow Award, Property Man of the Year (Malaysia) in 1993, CEO of the Year (Malaysia) in 1996, Asia's Most Innovative Chinese Entrepreneur Award 2005, Fellow Australian Society of Certificate Practising Accountants and Fellow of Institute of Directors award.