16-11-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr) Jeffrey Cheah, the founder and chairman of Sunway Group, has been awarded the honorary title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom. This prestigious recognition, marked by the post-nominal letters KBE, is a rare distinction for citizens of non-Commonwealth Realm nations, and Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah is the first Malaysian to receive this honour from King Charles III.
The knighthood acknowledges Cheah’s outstanding contributions to higher education, health services, and philanthropy. It also commends his pivotal role in fostering strong ties with various UK institutions, significantly enhancing the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.
Expressing his gratitude, Cheah stated, “I am deeply overwhelmed and greatly humbled by the award of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire conferred on me by His Majesty King Charles III. It is particularly welcomed as the honour is bestowed in recognition of services to Higher Education, Health Services, and Philanthropy – exactly the sectors in which Sunway Group and Jeffrey Cheah Foundation are making a difference in the world.”
Beyond his leadership in Sunway Group, Cheah is the founder and trustee of the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, governing all entities within Sunway Education Group under a not-for-profit structure. The foundation, to date, has allocated over RM670 million in scholarships to support deserving students and has endowed chairs and professorships at prestigious universities, including the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford.
Cheah’s efforts have resulted in significant partnerships between Sunway, the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, and renowned UK institutions such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Lancaster University, and others. In the healthcare sector, the collaboration led to the establishment of the Sunway Medical Centre and the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre at the Cambridge University Biomedical Campus.
In education, the partnership between Sunway University and Lancaster University has become one of the most successful transnational higher education collaborations globally. Cheah’s commitment to fostering talent is evident through the Sunway TES Centre of Accountancy Excellence, producing top talents in banking, finance, and accountancy.
Recently, Cheah, through Sunway Innovation Lab, facilitated a partnership with Cambridge-based venture capitalist firm Deeptech Labs to accelerate net-zero technologies’ growth and create opportunities for UK startups in the Asia-Pacific region.
The honorary award will be presented by the British High Commissioner to Malaysia on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III at a later date, marking a historic recognition of Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah’s exceptional contributions.
