Movers and shakers: (From left) Fiabci-Malaysia immediate past president Datuk Seri Koe Peng Kang, Klang Municipal Council president Hajah Noraini Haji Roslan, Fiabci-Malaysia deputy president Datuk Dr Jennifer Low, Yeow, Azman, Firdaus, Fiabci-Malaysia past president Tengku Datuk Abdul Aziz Tengku Mahmud, SMG chief business officer Lydia Wang and FIABCI-Malaysia national committee-assistant honorary treasurer Sally Ng at the MDA Awards. — GLENN GUAN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: It was an evening of glitz, glamour and resounding success as well-known names in the property development industry were recognised for their outstanding performances at the inaugural Malaysia Developer Awards (MDA) 2022.
Held at the Sunway Resort Hotel, the prestigious ceremony saw 28 trophies handed out for five categories under Special Awards and Top-of-the-Chart Awards.
The Special Awards comprised the Rising Star Award, Transformation Award and International Award while the Top-of-the-Chart Awards are divided into two categories, namely, the Top 10 for Market Capitalisation of RM1bil and above, and the Top 10 for Market Capitalisation below RM1bil.
This was to even out the playing field between bigger property developers and their smaller counterparts while also providing the opportunity for small and mid-sized property developers to be recognised.
The winners of the Top 10 for Market Capitalisation of RM1 billion and above were Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad, OSK Holdings Berhad, Scientex Berhad, Sime Darby Property Berhad, SP Setia Berhad, Mah Sing Group Berhad, IOI Properties Group Berhad, MRCB, UEM Sunrise Berhad and Sunway Berhad.
Winners under the Top 10 for Market Capitalisation below RM1bil category were Symphony Life Bhd, DPS Resources Bhd, EUPE Corporation Bhd, Paramount Corporation Bhd, Ayer Holdings Bhd, Jiankun International Bhd, LBS Bina Group Bhd, Guocoland (M) Bhd, MUI Properties Bhd and Ken Holdings Bhd.
For the Rising Star Award, BON Estates Sdn Bhd, EXSIM and KLK Land took top spots.
EXSIM was also a winner of the Transformation Award, alongside Sunway Property and Tropicana Metropark by Tropicana Corporation Bhd.
The International Award was won by Eco Sanctuary, Singapore by SP Setia Bhd and the Four Seasons Hotel and Hotel Residences Kyoto by Berjaya Land Bhd.
The Rising Star Award aims to uncover and highlight new and budding developers that have just set foot in the industry while also setting themselves apart, whereas the Transformation Award acknowledges developers that have transformed or rejuvenated old or abandoned projects.
The International Award recognises developers that have managed to penetrate markets beyond their countries of origin and garnered exceptional success through new ideas and concepts while also inspiring their peers.
The judging panel included renowned professionals across multiple disciplines in the property industry, which guaranteed a fair and just evaluation.
The chief judges were Bursa Malaysia Bhd chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, MBSB Bank Bhd chairman Tan Sri Azlan Mohd Zainol, Klang Municipal Council president Noraini Roslan and Institution of Engineers Malaysia past president Emeritus Prof Tan Sri Chuan Hean Teik.
In his speech, Star Media Group chief executive officer Alex Yeow said the initial goal of launching the MDA was to create first-rate, holistic and inclusive accolades that would be the pinnacle of achievements alongside being the talk of the town.
“Working towards this, we collaborated with none other than FIABCI-Malaysia which has carved a name for itself as an undeniable authority for brand endorsement for the property and real estate industry, both locally and internationally.
“Similarly, The Star is a household name in Malaysia and we take pride in being able to provide credible and reliable endorsements of the real estate industry.
“With that, the coming together of two powerhouses for this new prestigious accolade will undoubtedly create a new benchmark for excellence and allow the industry to recognise the most prominent and successful developers in Malaysia,” he said.
Yeow added that MDA’s introduction to the scene could not have come at a more apt time, noting the shifts within the real estate industry alongside other sectors of the economy.
“While property players have stepped up their game to tackle new challenges, evident in the rise of sustainable infrastructure and property, more still needs to be done.
“Real estate professionals also have to go beyond merely riding on emerging trends and technologies but also being trendsetters themselves.
“Through the recognition given via the MDA, we aim to embolden developers to reimagine the future of the industry which will ultimately showcase how Malaysian players are able to push the boundaries of what it truly means to be a world-class developer,” he said.
FIABCI-Malaysia president Datuk Firdaus Musa said the award recognised developers on the basis of their accomplishments with holistic and credible benchmarking.
“This ensures all projects are assessed impartially, bringing about trustworthy judgments to the industry and the Malaysian public.
“The MDA also incorporates global standards of development excellence to elevate the industry to the next level. This is done through championing quality without compromise and upholding strong values that focus on social and environmental issues,” he said. Also present was Housing and Local Government Ministry secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib.
For more information on the winners and the MDA programme, visit the website at malaysiadeveloperawards.com.my.
