First-Ever Virtual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) Gala Introduces Pioneering Winners’ Circle
The first-ever virtual gala of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia), now in its seventh year, premiered on Tuesday evening, 15 September 2020, with an immersive, interactive event that drew property seekers, real estate agents, overseas developers, and industry stakeholders alike.
Malaysia’s prestigious real estate awards platform presented 35 award categories to the outstanding builders of the country’s skylines and spaces via a multi-streamed event viewed worldwide via asiapropertyawards.com/en/newsroom, and the official channels on YouTube and Facebook. Viewers were able to participate in an exclusive live chat on the official Awards website during the live broadcast.
Tropicana Corporation Berhad received the title of Best Developer, boosted by 10 wins including the coveted trophy of Best Condo Development (Malaysia) for Tropicana Grandhill.
Fieldman Construction Sdn Bhd, one of several Special Recognition for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) recipients, was named Best Boutique Developer. Meanwhile, Matrix Concepts Group, Mah Sing Group Berhad, AME Development Sdn. Bhd., and Ideal Property Group earned the newly introduced titles of Best Mega Township Developer, Best Lifestyle Developer, Best Industrial Developer, and Best Affordable Homes Developer, respectively.
Some 25 major companies in Malaysian property development took part in the virtual celebrations and accepted their prizes via remote video. These included the Thai-Malaysian venture of Minor International and Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, which won the plum prize of Best Landed Development (Malaysia) for Anantara Desaru Coast Residences.
In a milestone for the online programme, the Malaysia Real Estate Personality of the Year title went to Sarena Cheah, managing director of Sunway Berhad’s property division. She is the first woman to receive this honour in Malaysia.
“Every day, the team at Sunway Property takes on the most pressing challenges of our time and that is to build sustainable cities and communities in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are practiced across the world. This is because we see urban cities as the world’s biggest challenge; but at the same time, that is potentially also our greatest solution,” Cheah said.
“I would like to take the opportunity to also thank all our customers, employees, stakeholders, and everybody who has been on this journey with us. Thank you for being our inspiration, as at the end of the day, it’s really putting smiles on everybody’s faces that is our greatest joy in being a ‘Master Community Developer,’” she added.
An independent panel of expert judges arrived at the shortlist after a rigorous, ethical, fair, transparent judging process supervised by BDO Malaysia, led by Pang Zhi Hao, Partner, and Lu Yan Fen, Director, Audit.
The judging panel comprises Awards chairperson Prem Kumar, Deputy Managing Director, Jones Lang Wootton; Blaine Robert, Creative Director/CEO, Blaine Robert Design Sdn. Bhd. and Blaine Robert Lifestyle Sdn. Bhd.; Boon Che Wee, Director, GRA Architects; Chris Tia, Principal, Tia & Noordin; Dr. Daniele Gambero, CEO & Propenomist, REI Group of Companies; Datuk Ar Hj Saiful Anuar Abdul Aziz, Principal, Arte Axis Design Group; Sr Low Han Hoe, Senior Manager, Investment, Nawawi Tie Leung Real Estate Consultants Sdn Bhd; Architect Mustapha Kamal Zulkarnain, Founder and Principal, Arkitek Mustapha Kamal; Sr. Engad Ravana, Principal of ER Consult; and Tan Hui Yin, Partner, Tan Chap & Associates; and Ir. Dr. Zulhkiple A. Bakar, Managing Director, Perunding ZNA.
Site inspections in North Malaysia were conducted under a team of judges that included Miichael Yeoh, CEO & Founder, GM Training Academy PLT; Ng Wee Kwong, Property Investor; Richard Oon Hock Chye, Executive Director, ShineWing TY TEOH Consulnet Tax Sdn. Bhd, and Charles Tan Chia Lih, Owner of kopiandproperty blog. Meanwhile, site inspections in South Malaysia were conducted by Lim Qun Kai, Designer, Founder, The Blue Creative; Ir. Dr. Justin Lai, Managing Director of IPM Group; and Law Lee Kiau, President, Johor Interior Designer Association.
The 7th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2020 was supported by platinum sponsor Kohler; official portal partner PropertyGuru.com.my; official magazine PropertyGuru Property Report; media partners Business Today, Kopi and Property, Malaysian Business, The Grid, and Top 10 of Malaysia; official PR partner Klareco Communications; official charity partner Right To Play; official supplier CornerStone Wines; and official supervisor BDO.
For more information, email awards@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.
