Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, the founder and chairman of Sunway Group, has been granted the honorary title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by King Charles III of the UK.
This honour recognises Cheah’s significant contributions to higher education, healthcare services, and philanthropy.
It also acknowledges his pivotal role in fostering partnerships between various UK institutions and entities in Malaysia, promoting bilateral relations between the two countries.
Cheah expressed his deep gratitude for the honor and highlighted its alignment with the work of Sunway Group and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation in positively impacting society and Malaysia.
He has played a key role in supporting higher education and healthcare services, disbursing over RM670 million in scholarships and establishing chairs and professorships at renowned universities like the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the UK.
Cheah’s efforts in the education sector include the successful transnational partnership between Sunway University and Lancaster University.
Additionally, collaborations with organisations like the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) have contributed to producing talented professionals in banking, finance, and accountancy.
In the healthcare sector, the partnership with the University of Cambridge led to Sunway Medical Centre’s appointment as a regional site partner of the Cambridge University Clinical Research Centre.
The Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus plays a crucial role in addressing public health challenges and conducting cutting-edge research, including COVID-19 response efforts.
Furthermore, Cheah’s recent partnership with Sunway Innovation Labs and Cambridge-based venture capitalist firm Deeptech Labs aims to advance net-zero technologies and create opportunities for UK startups in the Asia-Pacific region.
British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ailsa Terry, praised Cheah as an extraordinary entrepreneur who has not only led Sunway Group to success but has also made significant contributions to education, healthcare, and philanthropy, further strengthening bilateral relations between the UK and Malaysia.
The official presentation of the honorary award by the high commissioner on behalf of King Charles will occur at a later date.