31/10/2023 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah, founder and chairman of Sunway Group, has been bestowed with the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by the UK's King Charles III.
The British High Commission announced today that Cheah received this honour in recognition of his significant contributions in higher education, healthcare services, and philanthropy. The KBE, a rare accolade given to non-Commonwealth citizens, symbolises a deep respect for the recipient's achievements.
"This award to Cheah is the second of its kind in Malaysia recently, and the first conferred by King Charles to a Malaysian citizen. This honour also underscores Cheah's role in fostering strong ties with several UK institutions and contributing to the bilateral relationship between the UK and Malaysia," the statement read.
Cheah, a renowned Malaysian entrepreneur and philanthropist, is also the founder and trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, which owns and manages all entities within the Sunway Education Group under a non-profit structure. The foundation has, to date, distributed over RM670 million in scholarships to deserving students. Furthermore, it has provided chairs and professorships at leading global institutions, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, facilitating knowledge transfer and bringing world-class expertise to Malaysia.
The British High Commission commended Cheah's relentless efforts in collaborating with prominent UK institutions like the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Lancaster, and the Royal College of Physicians. In healthcare, Sunway Medical Centre in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur has been appointed as a regional site partner for the University of Cambridge's Clinical Research Centre. Additionally, the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, situated at the University of Cambridge's Biomedical Campus, stands as the largest biotech cluster outside the US.
"Apart from playing a crucial role in the UK's response to COVID-19, the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre houses over 300 scientists conducting advanced research to tackle current and emerging public health challenges," the statement added.
In education, the relationship between Sunway University and University of Lancaster since 2006 has been celebrated as one of the most successful transnational higher education partnerships globally, recently winning the UK-Malaysia Educational Institution Collaboration award at the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (BMCC) 2022 Excellence Awards.
"Recently, Cheah, through Sunway Innovation Lab, has collaborated with Cambridge-based firm, Deeptech Labs, to expedite zero-carbon technology growth and pave the way for UK start-ups in the Asia Pacific region," the statement highlighted.
Expressing his gratitude, Cheah said, "This recognition is not just a personal honour, but it also acknowledges the collective efforts of all associated with Sunway Group and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation in making a positive impact on society and Malaysia."
Ailsa Terry, the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, extended her congratulations to Cheah, describing him as an extraordinary entrepreneur who has built and led the Sunway Group to become a successful conglomerate with investments in the UK. She will present the KBE to Cheah on behalf of King Charles on a date to be announced later.
Previously, in 2019, the Executive Chairman of YTL Corporation Bhd, Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, was also awarded this honour.