New benchmarks set at the 12th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia

Expanded categories, ESG honours, and consumer-driven insights mark a new era of excellence in Malaysian real estate

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — The 12th PropertyGuru Asia Awards Malaysia in partnership with iProperty returned to The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur on 8 October 2025, uniting over 500 real estate leaders for an evening of celebration and recognition. Presented by Platinum Sponsor Lim Soh & Goonting Advocates & Solicitors, this year’s gala spotlighted the country’s most outstanding developers, projects, and industry figures across 73 categories. 

The 2025 edition expanded its scope to include the inaugural Consumer Demand Awards, the return of the People’s Choice Awards, and new distinctions for ESG Developers and the Best of Malaysia honours, alongside the coveted Best Developer (Malaysia) title. Each category reflected the Awards’ continuing mission to champion innovation, sustainability, and excellence within the nation’s property landscape. 

JLand Group named Malaysia’s Best Developer 2025 

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of Best Developer (Malaysia) to JLand Group, a developer recognised for shaping Johor’s urban growth through sustainable and community-focused projects such as Bandar Dato’ Onn, Bandar Tiram, and Ibrahim Technopolis (IBTEC). 

The win marked JLand Group’s seventh award of the night, reinforcing its leadership in Malaysia’s southern region. The company will advance to Bangkok in December to represent Malaysia at the 20th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, joining 23 national champions from this year’s programme. 

Celebrating individual excellence 

Two exceptional leaders were honoured with the programme’s most distinguished individual accolades: 

• Datuk Sr Mohd Salem Kailany, Group Chief Executive Officer of KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, received the Malaysia Real Estate Personality of the Year award for his strategic vision and leadership in shaping Kuala Lumpur’s urban landscape.

• Dato’ Sri Jerry Kwan Aik Khai (SSAP, DIMP, DSM), Founder and Managing Director of JRK Holdings Berhad, was named Malaysia Rising Star 2025 for his entrepreneurial drive and forward-thinking approach that continues to inspire the next generation of developers. 

Consumer insight and public choice shape the spotlight 

This year marked the debut of the Consumer Demand Awards, recognising the nation’s most sought-after developments based on verified data from property seekers across PropertyGuru Malaysia and iProperty Malaysia. 

R&F Development Sdn Bhd’s R&F Princess Cove stood out as a multiple winner, earning accolades for both rental and sales demand as well as strong cross-border interest from Singaporean buyers. 

The People’s Choice Awards also made a celebrated return, with over 27,000 public votes determining the Top 10 Developers in Malaysia for 2025, including Berinda Group, CPI Land, Gunung Impian Development, Mah Sing Group, Malton Berhad, PKNS, Platinum Victory, Tiland Group, Tropicana Corporation Berhad, and TRX City Sdn Bhd. 

ESG and sustainability at the forefront 

Sustainability remained a central theme, guided by the Awards’ Official ESG Knowledge Partners — Green Building Index (GBI), GreenRE, and Malaysia Green Building Council (MGBC).

 PKNS achieved dual honours as both Low Carbon Champion and Sustainable Design Champion, while Berinda Group earned the Best Sustainable Developer title for its commitment to green innovation in Johor. 

Recognising Malaysia’s ‘Best of Malaysia’ developments 

The judges further selected five standout developments to represent the nation on the regional stage: 

• Galeria SA Sentral by PKNS — Best Designed Development (Malaysia) 
• Tun Razak Exchange by TRX City Sdn Bhd — Best Commercial Development (Malaysia) 
• Armani Hallson KLCC by Armani Group — Best High-Rise Development (Malaysia) 
• SÓL Estate Prime by Exal (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd — Best Landed Development (Malaysia) 
• Bandar Dato’ Onn by JLand Group — Best Township Development (Malaysia) 

A celebration of Malaysia’s finest 

With meticulous supervision by HLB Ler Lum Chew PLT, the event upheld its legacy of integrity and transparency in judging. The gala also recognised the invaluable contributions of a 14-member judging panel comprising leading architects, engineers, surveyors, and sustainability experts. 

From trailblazing new entrants to industry veterans, this year’s winners reflected Malaysia’s continuous evolution toward a more innovative, inclusive, and sustainable property future. 

Gynen Kyra Toriano, Digital Content Manager at PropertyGuru, wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].