South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016 names the year’s finest real estate

The winners of the third annual South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016, with Guest of Honour Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, chairman of PropertyGuru Malaysia

The time has come again to celebrate the most innovative developers and projects in Malaysian real estate at the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia), presented by Hansgrohe and organised by PropertyGuru Group.

Sime Darby Property was awarded the year’s top honour – Best Developer (Malaysia) – for its long-term commitment to developing quality townships, in front of a 300-member audience that included Guest of Honour Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, chairman of PropertyGuru Malaysia, and VIP guest Yang Berhormat Datuk Chua Tee Yong, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, who gave the opening address.

“Inheriting its legacy of excellence in plantation, Sime Darby continues its quest in nation-building, from putting food on our table to building roofs over our heads,” the independent judging panel noted. “Given its significance and constant reinvention, Sime Darby is certainly part of developing Malaysia’s history.”

Another big moment for the conglomerate was when it was announced as one of the two victors – along with triple winner UM Land – in a new category: Special Recognition in Sustainable Development. The two companies were chosen for their exemplary track record and forward-looking vision in sustainability.

Putting an emphasis on the importance of corporate social responsibility in the property sector, three equally deserving winners were chosen to receive the Special Recognition in CSR: LBS Bina Group Berhad, Mah Sing Group and Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad.

The judging panel also introduced a Best Boutique Developer category for the first time in the programme’s three-year history. The award went to Mitraland Group for its well-conceptualised, well-designed and well-priced boutique projects such as Kiara 1888 and Cascades.

Mitraland’s delegation was led by its founder and group CEO, Chuah Theong Yee, who received the prestigious, non-compete Real Estate Personality of the Year award from the editors of Property Report, Asia’s leading luxury real estate, architecture and design magazine, and official media partner of the Awards.

Known in the industry for his aggressive and visionary leadership, Chuah dedicated his award to the entire Mitraland staff and to his family. “This is an unexpected yet tremendous honour…. 
It is a wonderful feeling to know that the work you do is being appreciated and considered to be of great value amongst your peers. My team and I are proud of our achievements and will continue to strive to create more incredible moments for our purchasers, investors and business partners.”

Multiple awards went to the Kuala Lumpur-based green condominium project, Serai, Bukit Bandaraya, KL by BRDB Developments Sdn Bhd. Aside from clinching the Best Luxury Condo Development (Central Malaysia) trophy, it also collected two Best of the Best honours for BRDB: Best Green Development and Best Residential Development (Malaysia), the latter qualifying them for the regional grand finals of the South East Asia Property Awards 2016 in Singapore this November.

Also moving forward to the finals is two-time winner Medini 10 by Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, which earned the Best Commercial Development and Best Commercial Development (Malaysia) awards.

Genting Property, one of Malaysia’s leading multinationals, also dominated the evening, coming in with four nods for its outstanding residential developments, Raintree Residences and The Crystal, and winning two gongs in development and design for the latter.

“The annual South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) definitely showcases the year’s best properties and investments, which have gone beyond mere financial gains and specific attributes pertinent to the difference and enhancement it has created in the property industry,” according to 30-year property veteran Prem Kumar, executive director of Jones Lang Wootton, and chairman of this year’s central panel of judges.

He added that the long-term growth of the Malaysian property would not be hampered by a temporary market slowdown, especially in view of government policies that have always encouraged growth of the sector as one of the key contributors to the advancement of the Malaysian economy.

Kumar led the 2016 central panel of judges that comprised the country’s prominent leaders in real estate development, management, architecture and design. The judges have been working together in the last six months under the fair and transparent supervision of BDO, one of the world’s biggest accountancy and auditing firms, to deliberate on the eligibility and quality of nominations.

“Our esteemed central judging panel for the third annual South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) was very well received for their credibility and expertise. We couldn’t have been prouder to have them as our jurors for Malaysia’s premier real estate awards,” said Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the Asia Property Awards.

VVIPs of the South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) 2016, including: Steve Melhuish, CEO and co-founder of PropertyGuru Group; Tan Chee Hoaw of Mitraland Group; Real Estate Personality of the Year Chuah Theong Yee, group CEO of Mitraland; Dato’ Feizal Mustapha, chairman of BDO Malaysia, official awards supervisor; Guest of Honour Yang Amat Mulia Tunku Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, chairman of PropertyGuru Malaysia; VIP guest and keynote speaker Yang Berhormat Datuk Chua Tee Yong, the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry; Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of Asia Property Awards and Property Report; chairman of the judges Prem Kumar, executive director of Jones Lang Wootton; and Mr KC Lee, managing director of Hansgrohe, title sponsor

The black-tie event at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur on 11 August was preceded by the inaugural Property Report Congress Malaysia 2016, which debuted in the country right before the annual Gala Dinner. Attended by around 100 participants, the high-level conference welcomed seasoned speakers such as Kumar and Sheldon Fernandez, country manager of PropertyGuru Malaysia, to discuss investor sentiment, and the current state and future of the Malaysian real estate industry.

Other speakers at the Congress included a who’s who of industry heavyweights, including: YBhg Datuk Hj Sahrom, director of the Planning Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall; Ian Paynton, digital strategist and founder of Hashtagcontent.com; and South East Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) judges, author Khalil Adis and DTZ’s Low Han Hoe.