Founder and Chairman

TAN SRI DR. JEFFREY CHEAH AO

Founder and Chairman, Sunway Group

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO is the founder and chairman of Sunway Group, a leading Malaysian conglomerate with core interests in property, construction, hospitality, retail, education and healthcare.

He is also the founder and trustee of Malaysia’s largest education-focused social enterprise, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF). His lifelong dedication to sustainable development is evident in the thriving communities throughout Sunway’s integrated developments and townships, sprawling more than 5,000 acres across Malaysia.

Sustainability is nurtured not only in developments and townships, but also through the realisation of dreams: Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO is a champion and advocate of quality education and research, making them accessible to deserving students through JCF scholarships.

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO receiving the Honorary Doctorate of Education from University of Malaya

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO receiving the Honorary Doctorate of Education from University of Malaya
Academic links with University of Oxford to set up Jeffrey Cheah Professorial Fellows

Academic links with University of Oxford to set up Jeffrey Cheah Professorial Fellows
Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO assuming the role of a teacher during Teach for Malaysia Week

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO assuming the role of a teacher during Teach for Malaysia Week

A Passion for Education

As a strong advocate of quality education and research as well as sustainable development, Tan Sri Cheah continues to fulfil his personal life philosophy of “aspiring to inspire before I expire”. He had transferred, in perpetuity, the equity and rights of Sunway Education Group’s (SEG) educational institutions, worth several billion Ringgit, into the JCF.

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO’s vision to transform SEG into the intellectual and cultural hub of the East has seen JCF establishing academic ties with some of the world’s preeminent universities including University of Cambridge, Harvard University, and University of Oxford.

The appointment of Jeffrey Cheah Professors at each of these universities aim to facilitate a two-way flow of scholars and researchers between the world-class institutions and the Southeast Asian region.

He is also the mastermind behind the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia (JCI), the first public-policy think tank based in a private university in Malaysia, to conduct and promote joint research and teaching on economies, societies, politics, and cultures in Southeast Asia.

JCF Scholarships
awarded RM538 million and counting

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO’s
personal aim
is to award RM1 billion worth of scholarships in his lifetime

Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia (JCI)
Malaysia’s first public-policy think tank based in a private university

Jeffrey Cheah Foundation partners with University of Cambridge to set up the first Clinical Research Centre in Southeast Asia

Jeffrey Cheah Foundation partners with University of Cambridge to set up the first Clinical Research Centre in Southeast Asia
Sunway partners with Harvard Medical School to establish the Harvard Medical School Southeast Asia Leadership Programme (HMS SEAL)

Sunway partners with Harvard Medical School to establish the Harvard Medical School Southeast Asia Leadership Programme (HMS SEAL)
Academic ties with the University of Cambridge allow Sunway Medical Centre to collaborate with Royal Papworth Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital to become Malaysia’s first teaching hospital

Academic ties with the University of Cambridge allow Sunway Medical Centre to collaborate with Royal Papworth Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital to become Malaysia’s first teaching hospital

Progressing the Healthcare Landscape

In the healthcare sector, it all began with Sunway Medical Centre. What started as a single tower at Sunway City Kuala Lumpur in 1999 has expanded to five towers, becoming Malaysia’s largest private hospital.

This achievement has been recognised, having received international awards that rank Sunway Medical Centre alongside the established Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok and above Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.

Sunway’s healthcare division has already expanded to the Velocity township in Cheras, Kota Damansara, and Singapore, with plans for new centres in Seberang Jaya, mainland Penang, Sunway City Ipoh, and Sunway City Iskandar Puteri in Johor.

The partnerships with renowned educational institutions have led to the establishment of Malaysia’s first private teaching hospital linked with Cambridge University Medical School.

Other prestigious partnerships include one formed among Sunway University, Sunway Medical Centre, and Harvard Medical School that has inspired the development of the annual Southeast Asia Leadership (SEAL) programme. This programme empowers healthcare leaders and frontline clinicians in the region to provide the highest standards of care. More recently, Sunway Medical Centre also partnered with the Royal College of Physicians London to host a centre featuring the world’s most renowned specialists, covering the latest trends and developments in acute and general medicine.

Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia’s largest private hospital with close to 1,200 beds

Partnerships with Cambridge University Medical School, Harvard Medical School and Royal College of Physicians London

An award-winning healthcare facility named as Medical Tourism Hospital of the Year in the Asia-Pacific region

Building a Sustainable Future

Taking a momentous step forward in the sustainability agenda, Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO through the JCF, has partnered with the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) led by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, a renowned economist and a champion of sustainable development. Together, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were developed.

The partnership sets the foundation for the establishment of the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development at Sunway University.

The Center is a regional hub for research and policy practices, creating world-class programmes related to sustainable development to train a new generation of students, practitioners, and policy leaders, as well as to develop links with major Malaysian and international universities in seeking effective solutions to SDG-related issues.

The Center also serves as the host for SDSN Malaysia, chaired by Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO. SDSN Malaysia was launched in 2013 to elevate awareness and implementation of sustainable solutions in Malaysia, and beyond.

As a reflection of Sunway’s full embrace of the sustainability agenda and commitment to advancing the SDGs in the Asian region, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur has been selected as one of the three overarching United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN-SDSN) centres alongside New York City and Paris to coordinate continent-wide sustainability initiatives for Asia, the Americas and Europe as well as Africa respectively.

Tan Sri Cheah is also the co-chair of global initiative Mission 4.7, which was launched by Pope Francis alongside world leaders namely UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network President Professor Jeffrey Sachs, UNESCO assistant director-general for education Ms. Stefania Giannini and Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences at the Vatican in 2020. Mission 4.7 aims to accelerate the implementation of SDG Target which calls upon governments to ensure that learners acquire the knowledge, skills, values and attributes needed to achieve the SDGs.

An exemplary partnership
Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO and Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs

Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development
A regional hub for research and policy

SDSN Malaysia
For awareness and the implementation of sustainable solutions in Malaysia and beyond.

Achievements and Accolades

Besides being conferred 11 honorary doctorates by leading universities worldwide, he was also appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (“AO”) by the Prime Minister of Australia for his contribution in building bilateral relations between Malaysia and Australia through education.

In 2018, he was also conferred Malaysian Institute of Management’s (MIM) Court of Emeritus Fellow.

Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy
2009, 2015, 2019

Appointed Council Member of United Nations (UNSDSN)
2013

Member of Harvard’s Global Advisory Council
2014

Select Year

Hunayn Ibn Ishaq Unity Award

2020

First non-Muslim recipient to receive the Hunayn Ibn Ishaq Unity Award alongside Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad at the Islamic Excellence Awards 1441H/2020AD
Forbes Asia’s 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy

2019

Named Forbes Asia’s 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy for the third time. He is the only Malaysian who has made the definitive list for three years.
Lifetime Achievement Award

2019

Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th Fortune Times Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner
UK-Malaysia Business Personality Award

2019

Awarded the UK-Malaysia Business Personality Award at the BMCC Business Excellence Awards 2019
Malaysia’s Exemplary Leader of Sustainable Development 2019

2019

Awarded Editor’s Choice Award for Malaysia’s Exemplary Leader of Sustainable Development 2019 by EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2019.
Asian Leadership Award

2019

Conferred the Asian Association of Management Organisations (AAMO) Asian Leadership Award
Chairman of SDSN Malaysia chapter

2019

Appointed as Chairman of Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Malaysia chapter
Lifetime Achievement Award

2019

Received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Sin Chew Education Awards
MIM Court of Emeritus Fellow

2018

Conferred Malaysian Institute of Management’s (MIM) Court of Emeritus Fellow
Sustainability Icon Award

2017

Received the inaugural Sustainability Icon Award by RAM
ASEAN@50 Lifetime Achievement Award

2017

Awarded the ASEAN@50 Lifetime Achievement Award by ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia
Member of the MIM Court of Emeritus Fellow

2017

Appointed as Member of the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) Court of Emeritus Fellow
Member of the National Productivity Council of Malaysia

2017

Appointed as member of the National Productivity Council of Malaysia
Victoria University Distinguished Alumni Award

2016

Recipient of the Victoria University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Honorary Doctorate of Education

2016

Conferred Honorary Doctorate of Education by University of Malaya.
Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors, University of Oxford

2016

Appointed as Member of the Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors, University of Oxford.
University of Cambridge Guild of Benefactors

2016

Companion of the University of Cambridge Guild of Benefactors.
MIM Malaysian Leadership Excellence Award

2016

Conferred Malaysian Institute of Management’s (MIM) Malaysian Leadership Excellence Award.
Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford

2016

Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford.
The Dayawati Modi Award for Arts, Culture and Education

2016

First Malaysian recipient of the Dayawati Modi Award for Arts, Culture and Education. Other recipients include the Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa.
Lifetime Achievement Luminary Award 2016

2016

Awarded the Channel NewsAsia Lifetime Achievement Luminary Award 2016.
Member of Harvard’s COUR – the Committee on University Resources

2015

Member of Harvard’s COUR – the Committee on University Resources.
Lifetime Excellence Achievement Award

2015

Honoured with the Lifetime Excellence Achievement Award under the Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards 2015.
Malaysia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’ by Forbes Asia

2015

Listed as one of Malaysia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’ by Forbes Asia (first listed in 2009).
Best Chief Executive Officer for IR (Mid Cap)

2015

Best Chief Executive Officer for IR (Mid Cap) by the Malaysian Investor Relations Association.
Senior Honorary Life Advisor Award

2015

Senior Honorary Life Advisor Award by the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).
Founding Chair, Malaysian 30% Club

2015

Appointed Founding Chair for the Malaysian 30% Club.
Honorary Fellow, Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)

2015

Conferred Honorary Fellow by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM).
President’s Award, Malaysia Institute of Planners (MIP)

2014

President’s Award by Malaysia Institute of Planners (MIP).
Prominent Player Award by CIDB Malaysia

2014

Awarded Prominent Player Award by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia.
Value Creator: Malaysia’s Outstanding CEO

2014

Value Creator: Malaysia’s Outstanding CEO by The Edge Billion Ringgit Club.
Gonville Fellow Benefactor of Gonville

2014

Matriculated as a member of Caius, and admitted as a Gonville Fellow Benefactor of Gonville; Caius College, University of Cambridge.
Member of Global Advisory Council, Harvard University

2014

Appointed as Member of Global Advisory Council, Harvard University.
Malaysia Outstanding Property Personality Award

2013

Received the Malaysia Outstanding Property Personality Award by The Edge Malaysia.
Advisor to IDR in the State of Perak, Malaysia

2013

Appointed Advisor to Institut Darul Ridzuan (IDR) in the State of Perak, Malaysia.
Council Member of UNSDSN

2013

Appointed as Council Member of United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN).
Permanent Honorary President to the Federation of Hakka Associations Malaysia

2012

Appointed as Permanent Honorary President to the Federation of Hakka Associations Malaysia, in appreciation of his invaluable contributions to the associations.
Honorary Gold Award

2012

Received the Honorary Gold Award from the Royal Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur, in recognition of his leadership and development of education and research in Malaysia.
Honorary Fellowship by the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA)

2012

Conferred Honorary Fellowship by the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA) for his exemplary and overall contribution to the development of science education as well as the advancement of science and technology in Malaysia.
Malaysia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’

2009

Listed as one of Malaysia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’ by Forbes Asia.
Chancellor of Sunway University Malaysia

2006

Installed as Chancellor of Sunway University Malaysia by His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor.
Deputy President and Trustee of National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia

2002

Deputy President and Trustee of National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia.
Honorary Member of Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce

2002

First non-Malay Honorary Member of Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Harris Fellow Award

2002

Received the Paul Harris Fellow Award by Rotary Club Malaysia.
Founding Trustee of Malaysian Liver Foundation

1999

Appointed Founding Trustee of Malaysian Liver Foundation.
President of Malaysian Hakka Association

1997

Appointed President of Malaysian Hakka Association (until 2004).
Council Member of the Financial Reporting Foundation, Malaysia

1997

Appointed Council Member of the Financial Reporting Foundation, Malaysia.
Higher Education Council of Malaysia

1996

Appointed by the Minister of Education to the Higher Education Council of Malaysia.
Chairman of Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology for Construction and Housing

1996

Chairman of Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology for Construction and Housing.
EXCO member of the Malaysian Tourism Action Council

1996

EXCO member of the Malaysian Tourism Action Council.
CEO of the Year (Malaysia)

1996

Named CEO of the Year (Malaysia) by Business Times – American Express.
Extraordinary People Award

1996

Presented the Extraordinary People Award by the National Kidney Foundation.
Panglima Setia Mahkota

1996

Conferred the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM, carrying the title “Tan Sri”) by DYMM Seri Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agung ke-Sepuluh, Tuanku Ja’afar Ibni Al-Marhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
Dato Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak

1996

Conferred the Dato Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP, carrying the title “Dato Seri”) by Sultan of Perak DYMM Sultan Azlan Shah Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah Shah.
Property Man of the Year (Malaysia)

1993

Named Property Man of the Year (Malaysia) by FIABCI, Malaysia Chapter.
Director of National Productivity Centre, Malaysia

1990

Appointment as Director of National Productivity Centre, Malaysia.
Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor

1988

Conferred the Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor (DPMS carrying the title “Dato”) by the Sultan of Selangor DYMM Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah AlHaj Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah AlHaj.