Early Life
Jeffrey Cheah was born in Pusing, Perak, Malaysia, in the mid-1940s. Growing up in a tin-mining town, he witnessed the challenges faced by families, shaping his belief in education as a tool to combat poverty. He pursued a business degree at the Footscray Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia.
Rise to Success
Cheah started his career as an accountant before founding a tin-mining company in 1974. Over five decades, he transformed this company into the Sunway Group, a leading conglomerate with operations in multiple sectors. He is known for his vision in developing integrated townships, such as Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, which transformed a former mining wasteland into a sustainable community.
Key Business Strategies
Sunway Group's success is attributed to its Build-Own-Operate model, creating self-sustaining communities. Key business strategies include a focus on property development, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, with expansion into fintech. The group emphasizes environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sunway Healthcare is planning to list on Bursa Malaysia.
Philanthropy
Cheah is committed to philanthropy, particularly through the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. The foundation has awarded over RM967 million (approximately $200 million USD) in scholarships and grants to make quality education accessible. Cheah aims to award over RM1 billion in scholarships in his lifetime. In 2024, Cheah committed 500 million ringgit ($121 million) over the next five years to create one of Malaysia's largest education endowments at Sunway University. He also established the Jeffrey Sachs Center on Sustainable Development at Sunway University.
