What if you could take a barren wasteland, forgotten and abandoned, and transform it into a world-class township that’s green, smart, and thriving? For Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, founder of the Sunway Group, this wasn’t just a dream, it was a mission.
From its modest origins, Sunway Group has grown into one of Malaysia’s most prominent conglomerates, with a combined market capitalization of over RM35 billion. At its core lies Sunway City, a global benchmark for sustainable urban living, symbolizing what determination and innovation can achieve.
A Childhood That Shaped a Vision
Jeffrey Cheah’s story begins in Pusing, a small mining settlement in Perak, where he was surrounded by the devastating effects of unchecked industrial activity. Families struggled to make ends meet as the land, scarred by mining, could no longer support economic or agricultural activity.
“I was just a little-known individual from Pusing, a poverty-ridden town where many of my friends couldn’t afford to further their education due to financial constraints,” Cheah once shared. This early exposure to poverty and environmental degradation planted the seeds of a lifelong ambition: to create opportunities for others and to rehabilitate the land that industry had destroyed.
Cheah’s journey took him to Victoria University in Melbourne, where he pursued a business degree. Armed with his education and entrepreneurial spirit, he returned to Malaysia to begin his career as an accountant. Yet, his job at a motor assembly plant was not enough to fulfill his aspirations. In 1974, he took a leap of faith, invested RM100,000, and started his own tin-mining company.
A Dream That Defied the Odds
It wasn’t long before Cheah’s entrepreneurial instincts led him to pivot from mining to something far greater. After acquiring a 325-hectare piece of barren mining land in Selangor, Cheah envisioned a vibrant township that would be a beacon of sustainability and innovation. Skeptics dismissed his vision as a pipe dream, but Cheah was undeterred.
The transformation began with a focus on rehabilitation. His team tackled the ecological challenges head-on, even going so far as to reintroduce earthworms to restore soil fertility. This commitment to the environment became a cornerstone of the project and set Sunway apart from traditional developments.
The initial cornerstone of Sunway City’s transformation was the opening of Sunway Lagoon in 1992, Malaysia’s first major theme park. The success of Sunway Lagoon paved the way for further developments, including Sunway College (1987), Sunway Pyramid (1997), and Sunway Medical Centre (1999). By the late 1990s, Sunway City had become a thriving ecosystem that combined education, healthcare, retail, and entertainment in a way Malaysia had never seen before.
Sunway City: A Model for Green and Smart Living
Fast forward to today, and Sunway City Kuala Lumpur is not just a township; it’s Malaysia’s first fully integrated green city. This pioneering development incorporates cutting-edge smart energy management systems, an elevated electric bus network, and extensive green spaces that cover 40% of its area. Home to more than 200,000 people and over 150 species of flora and fauna, Sunway City has set a new benchmark for sustainable urban living.
Its success has sparked the development of other integrated townships, such as Sunway City Ipoh and Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, which are designed to replicate the same principles of sustainability, smart technology, and community-centric growth. These projects are not just expansions but evolutions, encompassing larger areas and introducing innovative features to serve future generations.
Jeffrey Cheah’s Commitment to Education
While the physical transformation of Sunway City is remarkable, Cheah’s contributions to education have cemented his legacy as a nation-builder. The Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, established in 2007, governs 12 educational institutions under a not-for-profit model, reinvesting all surpluses into scholarships and educational grants. As of 2024, the foundation has awarded over RM745 million to students, enabling countless individuals to achieve their dreams.
The partnership with internationally renowned institutions such as Monash University and Lancaster University has further elevated Malaysia’s reputation in higher education. Monash University’s Sunway Campus, for instance, is a testament to Cheah’s vision of bringing world-class education to Malaysian soil. These collaborations not only enhance Malaysia’s intellectual capital but also help stem the brain drain, a critical challenge for the nation.
Cheah views education as an investment in Malaysia’s future. “This is not giving money away,” he explained in an interview. “This is helping people excel. These are my future talents, the future talents to move the country forward.”
A Legacy of Humility and Generosity
As Sunway Group moves forward from the celebration of its 50th anniversary last year, Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah’s vision for Sunway City continues to grow bolder. His philosophy, “I aspire to inspire before I expire,” captures his enduring commitment to leaving a profound and lasting impact on society.
With a net worth of $3.1 billion as of January 2025, ranking him #1,099 on Forbes’ list of the world’s billionaires, Cheah’s success is a testament not just to his business acumen but to his dedication to building a better future. From barren mining pools in the 1970s to a thriving hub of innovation, sustainability, and education, Sunway City stands as a beacon of what determination, resilience, and a passion for giving back can achieve.
His journey reminds us that no dream is too ambitious and no challenge too great when driven by purpose and a commitment to creating positive change. Sunway City is more than just a township, it is a symbol of what is possible when one dares to turn a wasteland into a wonderland, leaving behind a legacy that inspires generations to come.
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