Founder and Chairman

Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah

TAN SRI DATO’ SERI SIR DR. JEFFREY CHEAH KBE AO

Founder and Chairman, Sunway Group

Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah is the founder and chairman of Sunway Group, one of Southeast Asia’s leading conglomerates with 13 business divisions across more than 50 locations worldwide. He is also the founder and trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF). Adopting a social enterprise model, JCF is the largest of its kind in advancing education across Malaysia. His lifelong dedication to sustainable development is evident in the host of thriving communities throughout Sunway’s integrated developments and townships, sprawling more than 2,200 hectares across Malaysia.

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

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

  • Academic links with University of Oxford to set up Jeffrey Cheah Professorial Fellows

  • Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah 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 Sir Dr. Jeffrey 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 JCF.

Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah’s vision of evolving 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.

Sunway Scholarship

JCF Scholarships
awarded more than RM745 million and counting

sunway money

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

Sunway Education

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

  • 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

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.

In addition, Sunway has also established a long-term partnership with the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF) to improve healthcare access for underprivileged communities living with HIV in Sabah and Sarawak. The partnership seeks to address the socio-economic barriers to HIV treatment, prevention and care services in the Borneo states of Malaysia.

Officially known as the MAF-Sunway HOPE Borneo Project, Sunway will support the three flagship programmes under this umbrella initiative, namely the Teratak Kasih Tok Nan and the Sarawak Health Access Programme for Sarawak, and the SAGA Health Access Programme for Sabah.

bed

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

partnership

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

healthcare

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

Sunway - Building a sustainable future

Building a Sustainable Future

Taking a momentous step forward in the sustainability agenda, Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah 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 Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah. SDSN Malaysia was launched in 2013 to elevate awareness and implementation of sustainable solutions in Malaysia, and beyond.

Sunway has also established the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, one of just a handful of such entities in the world, at Sunway University, which aspires to become the first planetary health-oriented university in the world.

The Centre aims to contribute to the advancement of planetary health through quality education, world-class research and making knowledge accessible to all and engage with people across the Asia and Pacific regions who are most vulnerable to the impacts of planetary health challenges.

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. The establishment of UN-SDSN’s Asia headquarters is made possible through a generous gift of USD 20 million by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation.

Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey 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.

partnership

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

Sunway Sustainability

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

Sustainability

UN-SDSN Asia Headquarters
For awareness and the implementation of sustainable solutions in Malaysia and beyond

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah AO

Achievements and Accolades

Besides being conferred 12 honorary doctorates by leading universities worldwide, Tan Sri Sir Dr. Jeffrey Cheah 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.

hero

Forbes Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy
2009, 2015, 2019, 2021

Award

Appointed Council Member of United Nations (UN-SDSN)
2013

idea

Member of Harvard’s Global Advisory Council
2014

Select Year

    1. KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (KBE) BY HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III

      For his contributions to higher education, health services, philanthropy and UK-Malaysia bilateral relations, Cheah was named an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom – the first to conferred by His Majesty on a Malaysian citizen.

    2. PUTRA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

      Named Putra Personality of the Year, which recognises his accomplishments in building one of Malaysia’s most iconic brands and lifelong commitment to nation-building through education, healthcare and sustainable development.

      Named Putra Personality of the Year, which recognises his accomplishments in building one of Malaysia’s most iconic brands and lifelong commitment to nation-building through education, healthcare and sustainable development.

    3. CO-CHAIR OF MAF SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

      Appointed Co-Chair of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation Sustainability Advisory Committee to steer the Foundation towards the path of sustainability.

      Appointed Co-Chair of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation Sustainability Advisory Committee to steer the Foundation towards the path of sustainability.

    4. FORBES ASIA’S 2021 HEROES OF PHILANTHROPY

      Named Forbes Asia’s 2021 Heroes of Philanthropy, he is the second philanthropist in Asia to be included in this definitive list on four occasions. He was previously recognised in 2019, 2015 and 2009

      Cheah (left), pictured here with students during Teach for Malaysia week, has been named by Forbes in its “Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy” list for the fourth time.

    5. Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy

      Conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy for Leadership in Health Education and Sustainability Networks by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

      Conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy for Leadership in Health Education and Sustainability Networks by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

    6. FOUNDING TRUSTEE OF THE RAZAK SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT

      A founding trustee of the Razak School of Government, a leadership development institution for the public sector, named after Malaysia’s second prime minister.

    7. MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

      Serves as a member of the National Agricultural Advisory Council.

    8. MEMBER OF ECONOMIC ACTION COUNCIL

      Named a member of the Economic Action Council which was set up in 2020 and chaired by the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

    9. Hunayn Ibn Ishaq Unity Award

      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

      2020-The first non-Muslim recipient to receive the Hunayn Ibn Ishaq Unity Award alongside

    10. Lifetime Achievement Award

      Received the Lifetime Achievement Award at Sin Chew Education Awards

      2019-Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award by Sin Chew Education Awards

    11. Chairman of SDSN Malaysia chapter

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

      2019-Appointed Chairman of Sustainable Development Solutions Network Malaysia chapter

    12. Asian Leadership Award

      Conferred the Asian Association of Management Organisations (AAMO) Asian Leadership Award

      2019-Conferred the Asian Association of Management Organisations Asian Leadership Award

    13. Malaysia’s Exemplary Leader of Sustainable Development 2019

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

      2019-Awarded Editor Choice Award for Malaysia Exemplary Leader of Sustainable Development 2019 by EdgeProp Malaysia Best Managed Property Awards 2019

    14. UK-Malaysia Business Personality Award

      Awarded the UK-Malaysia Business Personality Award at the BMCC Business Excellence Awards 2019

      2019-Awarded the UK-Malaysia Business Personality Award at the BMCC Business Excellence Awards 2019

    15. Lifetime Achievement Award

      Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th Fortune Times Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner

      2019-Awarded Lifetime Achievement Award at the 5th Fortune Times Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner

    16. Forbes Asia’s 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy

      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.

      2019-Named Forbes Asia 2019 Heroes of Philanthropy for the third time

    17. MIM Court of Emeritus Fellow

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

      2018-Conferred Malaysian Institute of Management Court of Emeritus Fellow

    18. Member of the National Productivity Council of Malaysia

      Appointed as member of the National Productivity Council of Malaysia

    19. Member of the MIM Court of Emeritus Fellow

      Appointed as Member of the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) Court of Emeritus Fellow

    20. ASEAN@50 Lifetime Achievement Award

      Awarded the ASEAN@50 Lifetime Achievement Award by ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia

      2017-Awarded the ASEAN50 Lifetime Achievement Award by ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia

    21. Sustainability Icon Award

      Received the inaugural Sustainability Icon Award by RAM

      2017-Awarded the inaugural Sustainability Icon Award by RAM

    22. Lifetime Achievement Luminary Award 2016

      Awarded the Channel NewsAsia Lifetime Achievement Luminary Award 2016.

      2016-Awarded with the Channel NewsAsia Lifetime Achievement Luminary Award 2016

    23. The Dayawati Modi Award for Arts, Culture and Education

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

    24. Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford

      Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford.

      2016-Honorary Fellow of Brasenose College University of Oxford

    25. MIM Malaysian Leadership Excellence Award

      Conferred Malaysian Institute of Management’s (MIM) Malaysian Leadership Excellence Award.

      2016-Conferred Malaysian Institute of Management Malaysian Leadership Excellence Award

    26. University of Cambridge Guild of Benefactors

      Companion of the University of Cambridge Guild of Benefactors.

      2016-Companion of the Cambridge University Guild of Benefactors

    27. Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors, University of Oxford

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

      2016-Member of the Chancellor Court of Benefactors University of Oxford

    28. Honorary Doctorate of Education

      Conferred Honorary Doctorate of Education by University of Malaya.

      2016-Conferred Honorary Doctorate of Education by Universiti Malaya

    29. Victoria University Distinguished Alumni Award

      Recipient of the Victoria University Distinguished Alumni Award.

      2016-Recipient of the Victoria University Distinguished Alumni Award

    30. Honorary Fellow, Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM)

      Conferred Honorary Fellow by the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM).

      2015-Conferred Honorary Fellow by the Institution of Engineers Malaysia

    31. Founding Chair, Malaysian 30% Club

      Appointed Founding Chair for the Malaysian 30% Club.

      2015-Founding Chair for the Malaysian 30 Club

    32. Senior Honorary Life Advisor Award

      Senior Honorary Life Advisor Award by the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).

    33. Best Chief Executive Officer for IR (Mid Cap)

      Best Chief Executive Officer for IR (Mid Cap) by the Malaysian Investor Relations Association.

    34. Malaysia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’ by Forbes Asia

      Listed as one of Malaysia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’ by Forbes Asia (first listed in 2009).

    35. Lifetime Excellence Achievement Award

      Honoured with the Lifetime Excellence Achievement Award under the Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards 2015.

      2015-Honoured with the Lifetime Excellence Achievement Award under the Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards 2015

    36. Member of Harvard’s COUR – the Committee on University Resources

      Member of Harvard’s COUR – the Committee on University Resources.

    37. Member of Global Advisory Council, Harvard University

      Appointed as Member of Global Advisory Council, Harvard University.

    38. Gonville Fellow Benefactor of Gonville

      Matriculated as a member of Caius, and admitted as a Gonville Fellow Benefactor of Gonville; Caius College, University of Cambridge.

      2014-Matriculated as a member of Caius, and admitted as a Gonville Fellow Benefactor of Gonville Caius College University of Cambridge

    39. Value Creator: Malaysia’s Outstanding CEO

      Value Creator: Malaysia’s Outstanding CEO by The Edge Billion Ringgit Club.

      2014-Value Creator Malaysia Outstanding CEO by The Edge Billion Ringgit Club

    40. Prominent Player Award by CIDB Malaysia

      Awarded Prominent Player Award by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia.

      2014-Prominent Player Award by Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia

    41. President’s Award, Malaysia Institute of Planners (MIP)

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

      2014-President Award by Malaysia Institute of Planners

    42. Council Member of UNSDSN

      Appointed as Council Member of United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UNSDSN).

      2013-Appointed as Council Member of United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network

    43. Advisor to IDR in the State of Perak, Malaysia

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

    44. Malaysia Outstanding Property Personality Award

      Received the Malaysia Outstanding Property Personality Award by The Edge Malaysia.

      2013-Malaysia Outstanding Property Personality Award by The Edge Malaysia

    45. Honorary Fellowship by the Malaysian Scientific Association (MSA)

      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.

    46. Honorary Gold Award

      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.

      2012-Awarded Honorary Gold Award from the Royal Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur in recognition of his leadership and development of education and research in Malaysia

    47. Permanent Honorary President to the Federation of Hakka Associations Malaysia

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

    48. Malaysia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’

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

    49. Chancellor of Sunway University Malaysia

      Installed as Chancellor of Sunway University Malaysia by His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor.

      2006-Installed as Chancellor of Sunway University Malaysia by His Royal Highness Sultan of Selangor

    50. Paul Harris Fellow Award

      Received the Paul Harris Fellow Award by Rotary Club Malaysia.

    51. Honorary Member of Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce

      First non-Malay Honorary Member of Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce.

    52. Deputy President and Trustee of National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia

      Deputy President and Trustee of National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia.

    53. Founding Trustee of Malaysian Liver Foundation

      Appointed Founding Trustee of Malaysian Liver Foundation.

    54. Council Member of the Financial Reporting Foundation, Malaysia

      Appointed Council Member of the Financial Reporting Foundation, Malaysia.

    55. President of Malaysian Hakka Association

      Appointed President of Malaysian Hakka Association (until 2004).

    56. Dato Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak

      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.

    57. Panglima Setia Mahkota

      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.

    58. Extraordinary People Award

      Presented the Extraordinary People Award by the National Kidney Foundation.

    59. CEO of the Year (Malaysia)

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

    60. EXCO member of the Malaysian Tourism Action Council

      EXCO member of the Malaysian Tourism Action Council.

    61. Chairman of Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology for Construction and Housing

      Chairman of Malaysian Industry – Government Group for High Technology for Construction and Housing.

    62. Higher Education Council of Malaysia

      Appointed by the Minister of Education to the Higher Education Council of Malaysia.

    63. Property Man of the Year (Malaysia)

      Named Property Man of the Year (Malaysia) by FIABCI, Malaysia Chapter.

    64. Director of National Productivity Centre, Malaysia

      Appointment as Director of National Productivity Centre, Malaysia.

    65. Darjah Kebesaran Dato’ Paduka Mahkota Selangor

      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.