Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, AO, is the founder and chairman of Sunway Group, one of Malaysia’s most formidable property-construction groups, with a multitude of established businesses in more than 40 locations worldwide.
A business graduate of Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia, Tan Sri Cheah began his career as an accountant at a motor assembly plant in Malaysia. In 1974, he founded and started Sunway Group.
He has been conferred nine (9) honorary doctorates by leading universities worldwide. In 2007, Tan Sri Cheah established the framework of Jeffrey Cheah Foundation and in 2009, he transferred the ownership of Sunway Education Group in entirety together with its subsidiaries worth more than RM720 million to the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation for perpetuity. Sunway Education Group comprises, inter alia, Sunway University, Sunway College, Monash University Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Sunway International School. Jeffrey Cheah Foundation was officially launched by the Prime Minister of Malaysia on 18 March 2010 in the presence of its foundation’s patron, His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor.
In October 2013, Tan Sri Cheah received an Honorary Doctorate – Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University in recognition of Tan Sri’s outstanding contribution in developing education internationally and in making the collaboration between Sunway University and Lancaster University a growing success.
Tan Sri Cheah was also bestowed upon The Edge Malaysia Outstanding Property Personality Award 2013 for his meritorious contribution to Malaysia’s property industry. His stalwart leadership continues to solidify Sunway’s position in the market as an innovative, trusted and reputable property player.
In July 2013, Tan Sri Cheah through Jeffrey Cheah Foundation has endowed USD6.2 million (approximately RM20 million) underwriting a Southeast Asian Studies initiative: the Jeffrey Cheah Professorship, the Jeffrey Cheah Visiting Professorship, the Jeffrey Cheah Fellowship and the Jeffrey Cheah Travel Grants to advance teaching and research on Southeast Asia Studies. This will build ties between Harvard scholars and the Jeffrey Cheah Institute of Research on Southeast Asia based at Sunway University.
In February 2013, Tan Sri Cheah was conferred the Honorary Assistant Commissioner of Police title by Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police for his commendable efforts in crime awareness and prevention as Chairman of Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (Selangor Chapter). He received 2012 Honorary Gold Award, a top honour from the Royal Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur, in recognition of his leadership and development of education and research in Malaysia. Prior to that, he was conferred the Honorary Fellow 2012 by the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA) for his meritorious contribution to the development of science education, as well as for his overall contribution in the advancement of science and technology in Malaysia.
In December 2011, Tan Sri Cheah was appointed to Malaysia’s education panel to review the nation’s education system by the Minister of Education. He is the Founding Trustee of the Board of Mahathir Science Award Foundation, Razak School of Government, and the Perdana Leadership Foundation. He is among Malaysia’s leading givers who made Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy list 2009.
In 2008, Tan Sri Cheah was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (“AO”) by the Prime Minister of Australia. AO is one of Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded awards conferred to a non-citizen of Australia. In the same year, he was appointed Chairman of Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) Selangor Chapter, by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of MCPF Malaysia. He is also the Chairman and Co-Founder of Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (“ASLI”).
Other achievements and appointments of Tan Sri Cheah include:-
2012 – Appointed as Permanent Honorary President to the Federation of Hakka Associations Malaysia, in appreciation of his invaluable contributions to the Associations
2007 – Monash University School of Medicine and Health Sciences was named after Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah (Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences) in appreciation of his contribution to Monash University Malaysia and Malaysia-Australia bilateral ties
2006 – His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor installed him as the Foundation Chancellor of Sunway University
2002 – Deputy President of National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia - First non-Malay Honorary Member of Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce
1999 – Founding Trustee of Malaysian Liver Foundation
1997 – President of Malaysian Hakka Association (until 2004) - Council Member of the Financial Reporting Foundation
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 - EXCO member of the Malaysian Tourism Action Council
1990 – Director of National Productivity Centre
Other awards bestowed upon Tan Sri Cheah include Property Man of the Year (Malaysia) in 1993, CEO of the Year (Malaysia) in 1996, the Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2002, and Asia’s Most Innovative Chinese Entrepreneur Award in 2005.
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