PETALING JAYA (April 19): Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah of Sunway Group took the centre stage at EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2019’s gala dinner when he received the only personality award of the evening.

Cheah is the founder and chairman of the Sunway Group, one of Malaysia’s largest conglomerates with 12 established business divisions spanning 50 locations worldwide.

He is also an international icon in championing sustainable development over the last four decades not just in Malaysia but throughout the region.

At EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2019’s gala dinner held today in One World Hotel, Petaling Jaya, Cheah was awarded the Editor’s Choice Award for Malaysia’s Exemplary Leader of Sustainable Development 2019. As he could not be present at the awards night, Sarena Cheah, Sunway Bhd property division managing director received the award on his behalf from Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin who officiated the event.

“I will rather not take this award as a personality award. It is an effort of the entire Sunway Group and the shareholders. Building sustainably is no longer an option but a must and we can’t rely on solely on the government, it requires the contribution of all the sectors,” Cheah shared in his acceptance speech on video.

EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2019 recognises real estate that is managed with excellence and sustainability. Introduced in 2017, this annual Awards is the first of its kind in Malaysia and in the region.

It is endorsed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and supported by: Association of Property and Facility Managers Singapore, Architect Centre, Building Managers Association of Malaysia, Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Property & Facility Managers, Malaysian REIT Managers Association and Real Estate & Housing Developers’ Association.

“Property is no longer just about the structure and façade design, it is about how easy to upkeep the property so that the property could last long in good shape… The country is moving toward high-rise living, so it is very important for a project to go beyond just the structure but liveable and comfortable,” Zuraida shared in her speech.

Meanwhile, EdgeProp.my managing director and editor-in-chief Au Foong Yee said quality property management practices are no longer an option, but a must in community living.

“Let us not wait for a tragedy to strike before we do the right thing… By raising the bar on the nation’s property management practices, we hope Malaysia will be a global destination of properties with top-in-class management,” Au shares in her welcome speech.

Editors of EdgeProp.my also awarded Encore Melaka by Yong Tai Bhd with the Editor’s Choice Award - Malaysia’s Real Estate Contribution to the Nation 2019 award for its contribution to Malaysia’s tourism.

Encore Melaka is a theatre with Southeast Asia’s only state-of-the-art 360 degree rotating stage designed and built specially for the China’s famous Impression series show – Encore Melaka Impression Series.

Another recipient of the Editor’s Choice Award is Sutera Mall. The retail mall in Johor Bahru was accorded Editor’s Choice Award - Malaysia’s Exemplary Retail Mall 2019.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre was named winner of the Editor’s Choice Award - Exemplary Convention Centre.

The 14-year-old convention centre has contributed RM8 billion in economic growth to the country.

Besides the Editor's Choice Award, a total of 15 best managed projects were awarded in two divisions - Below 10 years and Above 10 years properties.

Among the winners of the night were properties developed by Gamuda Land, S P Setia, Perdana ParkCity, KLCC Property Holdings, Bandar Utama City Centre, Selangor Dredging Bhd, Naim Holdings Bhd, and UEM Sunrise Bhd.

Sunway Group and Perdana Parkcity Sdn Bhd were both awarded the prestigious EdgeProp Malaysia’s Responsible Developer: Building Sustainable Development Award.

In the sustainable landscape category, the EdgeProp-Ilam Malaysia’s Sustainable Landscape Awards 2019, the winners were Lepironia Garden by S P Setia Bhd, (Joint-Gold); The Mansions @ Parkcity Heights, Kuala Lumpur (Joint-Gold); Valencia, Sungai Buloh (Joint-Silver); and Sri Penaga Condominium, Bangsar (Joint-Silver).

EdgeProp Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2019 received more than 50 entries. A total of 31 projects were shortlisted for site visits and these comprised both strata and non-strata titled projects in the residential, office, industrial, medical and retail sub-sectors.

The awards was organised in partnership with Nippon Paint Malaysia and Panasonic Malaysia.

The event also has the support of The Association of Property and Facility Managers, Singapore (APFM); Architect Centre Sdn Bhd; Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM); the Building Managers Association of Malaysia (BMAM); Real Estate & Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda); the Malaysian Institute of Property & Facility Managers (MIPFM); Architect Centre; and the Malaysian REIT Managers Association (MRMA).