Jeffrey Cheah: The Visionary Billionaire Expanding Sunway Into Singapore’s Property Market

Malaysian billionaire Jeffrey Cheah, founder and chairman of Sunway Group, is making headlines with the group’s S$738.7 million (US$578 million) acquisition of Singaporean developer MCL Land.

The bold expansion signals not only Sunway’s growing influence in Asia’s property market, but also Cheah’s enduring vision of building communities rooted in resilience, beauty, and responsibility.

From Tin Mines to Townships

Born in the small mining town of Pusing, Perak, Cheah’s journey began far from the glamour of global business. After studying in Australia and working as an accountant, he founded Sunway in 1974 with RM100,000. Instead of extracting further value from barren mining land in Selangor, he chose to rehabilitate it - an unconventional decision that became the foundation of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s first green and sustainable township.

What critics once called unrealistic has since become an emblem of Malaysia’s urban renewal. Today, Sunway has grown into one of the nation’s largest conglomerates, spanning real estate, construction, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Last year alone, it reported record-high revenues of RM7.88 billion and pre-tax profits of RM1.5 billion.

Wealth with Responsibility

Cheah often reflects on his humble beginnings in Pusing, where many childhood friends could not afford education. That memory shaped his philanthropic outlook. In 2010, he established the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, which has since awarded over RM745 million in scholarships. Recognized four times on Forbes’ Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropylist, Cheah’s philosophy remains clear: success must be shared.

His oft-quoted motto - “I aspire to inspire before I expire” - captures this duality of ambition and responsibility. Beyond business, he has championed sustainability, education, and climate awareness as integral parts of his legacy.

A Legacy in Motion

With the acquisition of MCL Land, Sunway steps into Singapore’s hyper-competitive property market, extending its reach beyond Malaysia. For Cheah, however, expansion is more than corporate ambition, it is about shaping places where people can live, learn, and thrive.

At 78, Cheah has also turned his attention to succession planning. His three children - Sarena, Evan, and Adrian - each hold leadership roles within the group, ensuring continuity of values and vision.

As Asia’s real estate sector evolves, Jeffrey Cheah stands not only as a billionaire entrepreneur but as a curator of legacies - proof that resilience and responsibility can coexist at the highest levels of success.

This autumn, as Sunway takes root in Singapore, Jeffrey Cheah’s journey offers a timeless reminder: true leadership is not defined by what we build for ourselves, but by what we leave behind for generations to come.