Some people are born with business in their blood. Tan Sri Datuk Ter Leong Yap, Executive Chairman of Sunsuria Berhad, is one of those people.
As early as Standard 5, Ter was already organising paid trips for his classmates, chartering buses, collecting money, and even selling developed photos from the trip for a little profit.
“I would organise the trip, get a bus, get people to come and collect money to cover the cost, and at the end of the day, make a little profit. Then I would take photos, develop them, and sell them to make money,” he shares.
More than four decades later, that same resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit now drives a publicly listed company worth hundreds of millions, and is transforming city landscapes across Malaysia.
Rooted in Values, Raised by Teachers
Ter grew up in Meru, Klang, in a Chinese new village where both his parents taught at the local school.
“My family has a lot of teachers,” he shares. “My wife, my brother’s wife, my uncles, almost everyone was in education. I even taught at my father’s school for a short while while waiting for my university results.”
Though teaching brought him joy, his father’s dreams left a lasting impression: “He once said that if he weren’t a teacher, he’d be an entrepreneur. That stuck with me.”
After enrolling in mechanical engineering at the University of Malaya, Ter discovered his true strengths: people, projects, and persuasion.
“When I played games, I got to socialise and I enjoyed that. I was also the president of the art club, photography club and the Chinese Language Society. I acted in sketches on stage and was a student union representative. Basically, the only thing I didn’t do was study but, somehow, I managed to graduate.”
From Engineer to Entrepreneur
Upon graduation in 1989, Ter turned down 15 job offers to join a German-based equipment company. He learned quickly and, within a year, left to start his own business in construction and material handling.
Just over a year later, he and his brother took on a few property development projects. While he initially juggled both businesses, it wasn’t until 14 years later that Ter decided to go all-in on property.
And that decision came with big stakes; he mortgaged his house to fund the first major commercial project.
“It was risky, but I believed it was the right move. I took calculated risks and moved carefully,” he recalls.
Sunsuria Rises
From that first project, Ter grew Sunsuria into a household name in Malaysian real estate. Today, the company has completed numerous landmark developments including Sunsuria Avenue, Suria Jelutong, and Suria Rafflesia.
But its crowning achievement is the 525-acre Sunsuria City in Salak Tinggi, a self-sustaining township featuring Malaysia’s first Xiamen University overseas campus, residential enclaves, retail hubs, convention centre and more.
For Ter, each project is about creating real communities.
“Property is not just about selling homes. It’s about building environments where people thrive. We aim for customer success, not just satisfaction,” he explains.
To achieve that, Sunsuria even brought in a placemaking specialist from New York to train its team on how to create vibrant, people-first neighbourhoods.
Entering Kwasa Damansara
In April 2025, Sunsuria made headlines once again; this time for its entry into Kwasa Damansara, one of Klang Valley’s most ambitious new townships. Through a strategic partnership with Kwasa Land Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of EPF (Employees Provident Fund), Sunsuria will develop a new residential enclave within the master-planned township.
The upcoming 9.464-acre development will feature:
- 520 modern residential units comprising both landed homes and condominiums
- An estimated Gross Sales Value (GSV) of RM492 million
- Modern amenities, multi-generational living features, and sustainable designs
Positioned near Kota Damansara, Tropicana, and Sungai Buloh, the site will enjoy prime connectivity via six major highways and two MRT lines.
Record-Breaking Year in 2024
Sunsuria’s commitment to long-term growth is clearly showing results. For the 12 months ending 30 September 2024, the Group recorded a revenue of RM627.78 million, up 24% from the previous year, and a pre-tax profit of RM79.34 million, a 72% increase year-on-year.
The Group also reported unbilled sales of RM0.89 billion, which will help support future earnings. This strong performance was mainly driven by key developments such as Bangsar Hill Park, Seni Residences, and Sunsuria Kejora Business Park.
Additionally, the opening of Concord College International School in Sunsuria City in September 2024 added to the Group’s overall revenue for the year.
Expanding Into Education and Healthcare
Sunsuria is not stopping at real estate. In 2023, the group entered healthcare through a partnership with Icon Group Australia, establishing Icon Sunsuria. By January 2024, they had launched a cancer centre in collaboration with Island Hospital Penang.
On the education front, Sunsuria partnered with Concord College UK and now holds exclusive rights to establish Concord campuses in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, India, and other Asian regions.
A Company Built on Values
For Ter, the company’s growth comes back to its core values: respect, commitment, and progressiveness.
“These values shape how we work, hire, build, and even how we handle tough decisions,” he says. “They help us look beyond profits to long-term impact.”
Sunsuria’s culture is also deeply human. “We call ourselves Sunsurians. We spend so much time at work, so we need to create a good environment. That’s important to me.”
Legacy Beyond Numbers
If there’s one thing Ter has learned over the years, it’s that money isn’t everything.
“I guess I just enjoy building good things. Being with my family, friends and our team keeps me going. I want to leave a good legacy and I hope that one day, someone will take over and the company will continue on the path that has been set.”
From school bus trips to billion-ringgit ventures, Tan Sri Ter Leong Yap continues to shape a Malaysia that is not only modern and innovative; but also built on strong foundations of family, community, and purpose.
Source: here
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