Note from the publisher: Raising the bar for real estate excellence

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) took the No 1 spot at this year’s The Edge Malaysia Top Property Developers Awards (TPDA). This is the second time it has done so, the first time being in 2009. It was also the joint winner of the Best in Qualitative Attributes sub-award this year.

Sime Darby Property takes top spot at The Edge Malaysia Top Property Developers Awards 2024

From self-proclaimed tree hugger to key driver of Malaysia’s top property development company, Datuk Seri Azmir Merican is not your typical bricks-and-mortar guy.

TEPEA commentary: Malaysia’s best of the best

After 15 years, Sime Darby Property Bhd (SDP) has reclaimed the coveted title of Malaysia’s top property developer. The last time the company lifted the crown was in 2009.

Top Property Developers Awards judges’ comments

The Edge Malaysia-PAM Green Excellence Award debuted 14 years ago to recognise green buildings with outstanding and exemplary attributes beyond those embraced for formal green building certification.

The Edge Malaysia-PAM Green Excellence Award 2024 Judges - Judges’ citation

When Covid-19 struck in late 2019 and early 2020, the local building and construction industry was in a quandary, grappling with the rising cost of doing business and burdened by escalating land and construction material prices. Buyers were increasingly cautious and affordability a major issue. Developers were also pressured by high unsold inventories.

The Edge Malaysia-PEPS Value Creation Excellence Award 2024 Judges - Judges’ citation

The Edge Malaysia Affordable Urban Housing Excellence Award was launched 10 years ago to recognise outstanding, affordably priced urban homes. Through the award, we are encouraging developers to build outside the box.

The Edge Malaysia Affordable Urban Housing Excellence Award 2024 Judges - Judges’ citation

The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Awards, introduced in 2010, initially comprised anchor award The Edge Malaysia Top Property Developers Awards, and two other sub-awards, namely The Edge Malaysia-PEPS Value Creation Excellence Award and The Edge Malaysia-PAM Green Excellence Award. They were subsequently expanded to include The Edge Malaysia Affordable Urban Housing Excellence Award, The Edge Malaysia Outstanding Contribution to the Real Estate Industry Award, The Edge Malaysia Outstanding Property CEO Award, The Edge Malaysia Outstanding Property Entrepreneur Award, The Edge Malaysia Outstanding Overseas Project Award and The Edge Malaysia Property Development Excellence Award.

Other awards

The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Awards (TEPEA) recognises and celebrates the collective success of developers and their contribution to providing a roof over our heads — as a home, workplace and community space.

Crafting the TEPEA commemorative plate

The year is looking good for Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIME­PROP). After achieving record-high revenue and operating profit — since its demerger in 2017 — of RM3.4 billion and RM606.4 million respectively in FY2023, ended Dec 31, the group has chalked up its strongest nine-month performance to date for the period ended Sept 30 with a 35% increase in revenue to RM3.27 billion, while operating profit grew 51% to RM729.5 million.

On a transformation trajectory

Tan Sri Eddy Chen is someone who truly embodies humility and approachability. Dressed in his signature white button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, which he once jokingly called his uniform, Chen greets City & Country with a warm smile.

A lifelong commitment to excellence in real estate

City & Country met up with Datuk Jeffrey Ng, a well-liked veteran in the real estate industry, at Wisma Rehda in Petaling Jaya for a photoshoot and interview, as Ng is a recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Real Estate Industry award at The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Awards 2024.

Building on a legacy of knowledge

Datuk Seri Fateh Iskandar Mohamed Mansor (F D Iskandar), group managing director and CEO of Glomac Bhd (KL:GLOMAC), has built a reputation for being a tireless advocate of Malaysia’s real estate sector. With a career spanning more than 35 years, his passion for property development and drive to lift the industry have seen him at the helm of numerous industry bodies and initiatives aimed at shaping the country’s property landscape.

For the betterment of the industry

When Tengku Datuk Ab Aziz Tengku Mahmud was appointed to lead the 40-acre mixed-use Merdeka 118 precinct development project in 2010, the new role came naturally to him following his years of experience in leading property divisions at various companies before that.

Taking on a nationally significant landmark project

In recent times, it is not politicians, but bond vigilantes, who hold the most power over the global economy. In 2022, then-newly minted UK Prime Minister Liz Truss presided over a meltdown in the UK government bond market after her government announced sweeping tax cuts without any corresponding spending adjustments.

We have to thank the bond markets for telling the truth: Tharman

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Oct 8, 2026

No bidders turned up at an auction for a six-acre land that the Penang state government intends to sell to raise funds for the long-delayed Ayer Itam road bypass project.

Penang state land auction draws a blank, sources say

Here's a heads up on what to look out for today.

YOUR DAY AHEAD: Oct 8, 2026 

India’s central bank raised interest rates for the first time in nearly four years and signaled further hikes may be on the table as accelerating inflation and a weakening currency drive a policy pivot.

RBI signals further rate hikes as price pressures intensify

Asian stocks were poised for declines, tracking moves on Wall Street as elevated oil prices continued to stoke inflation concerns. Equity-index futures for Japan, Australia and South Korea pointed to a second day of declines for a regional stock gauge

Asian stocks to dip as oil fuels inflation worries

Oil edged higher after a report that the White House asked the Pentagon to draw up strike options against Iran that could be executed before the midterm elections, and as a storm shut some US output.

Oil edges higher on Iran strike options report and storm impact

A record-breaking run in stocks hit a wall as still-elevated oil prices stoked concerns that potential inflationary pressures could trigger Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes.

Stocks fall from all-time highs on inflation worry

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) has confirmed that it owes the Road Transport Department (JPJ) RM314 million in unremitted collections between May and September 2026, and said the liability has been recognised as a payable on its balance sheet.

Zetrix AI confirms RM314m JPJ arrears after Bursa demands direct answer

HSBC said on Wednesday consultations were underway, after the Financial Times (FT) reported that hundreds of jobs were at risk from the bank's adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

UK unit job cuts: HSBC says 'consultations' underway amid AI adoption

Police have arrested seven people, including several foreigners, in connection with&nbsp;the theft of 2.5kg of jewellery worth over RM1.7 million from a shopping mall in Genting Highlands, Bentong, in August.

Seven arrested over RM1.7 mil jewellery heist in Genting Highlands

Zetrix AI Bhd (KL:ZETRIX) has confirmed that it owes the Road Transport Department (JPJ) RM314 million in unremitted collections between May and September 2026, and said the liability has been recognised as a payable on its balance sheet.

Malaysia still faces RM20.1 billion in outstanding obligations related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) if no additional funds are recovered, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Govt still has to bear RM20.1b 1MDB burden if no further funds recovered — MOF

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Wednesday.

Yinson, Northern Solar, Aemulus, Datasonic, CIMB, AMMB, PJBumi, MMM Group

Bursa Malaysia Securities has dismissed MMM Group Bhd’s (KL:MMM) appeal against the rejection of its proposed regularisation plan, paving the way for the company to be delisted on Oct 12.

MMM Group to be delisted on Oct 12 as Bursa Malaysia dismisses appeal

British 30-year bond yields rose to a 28-year high on Wednesday as a global bond sell-off pushed equivalent US borrowing costs to their highest since 2002, adding to pressure on finance minister John Healey before his first budget in three weeks' time.

UK 30-year gilt yields hit 28-year high in global sell-off

The additional tax claim against Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) will not&nbsp;result&nbsp;in the cost being passed on to consumers through electricity tariff hikes, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

TNB's additional tax claim not passed on to consumers via tariffs, says MOF

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin is disputing the auditor general’s projection that the first of the long-delayed littoral combat ship (LCS1) would only achieve full operational readiness by December 2035.

Defence Minister disputes AG's 2035 readiness projection for long-delayed combat ships

Lighting solutions provider Speedy Best Holdings Bhd, which also manufactures and sells steel poles and provides smart city solutions, is planning an ACE Market listing to raise funds for capacity expansion and to further develop its proprietary platform that uses artificial intelligence for smart city management.

Speedy Best plans ACE Market IPO to raise funds for capacity expansion

Enterprise IT services provider Ancile Tech Bhd has filed its draft prospectus for an initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market, as it seeks funds to set up an in-house network operations centre (NOC) and security operations centre (SOC), and expand its business beyond northern Peninsular Malaysia.

IT solutions provider Ancile Tech files draft prospectus for ACE Market listing to fund business expansion

ACE Market-listed Aemulus Holdings Bhd (KL:AEMULUS) has secured new orders worth US$3.86 million (RM15.77 million) from an undisclosed Singapore customer for test systems used in the data centre and artificial intelligence (AI) market.

Aemulus secures RM15.8m orders for data centre, AI test systems from Singapore customer

The Nasdaq and the S&amp;P 500 eased from record highs on Wednesday as Treasury yields and oil prices rebounded, keeping investors cautious as they awaited the minutes of the Federal Reserve's September meeting.

Nasdaq, S&P 500 slip from record highs as yields and oil rebound

No bidders turned up at an auction for a six-acre land that the Penang state government intends to sell to raise funds for the long-delayed Ayer Itam road bypass project.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is finalising&nbsp;a proposal to enact the Statutory Bodies and Controlled Entities (Financial Governance) Act to strengthen the governance of government-owned companies.

MOF finalising proposed law to strengthen governance of govt-owned companies

The government is reviewing a formal agreement with Dapat Vista Sdn Bhd, the company that operates the eJamin system for online payment of court bail, before submitting it to the Cabinet soon.

eJamin: Govt reviewing formal agreement with Dapat Vista before presenting it to Cabinet

Asian stocks were poised for declines, tracking moves on Wall Street as elevated oil prices continued to stoke inflation concerns.&nbsp;Equity-index futures for Japan, Australia and South Korea pointed to a second day of declines for a regional stock gauge

The interest rate on the most common US home loan jumped last week to its highest in almost three years, worsening affordability for buyers four weeks before elections that will decide if President Donald Trump's Republicans keep control of Congress.

US 30-year mortgage rate hits highest in nearly three years

Oil edged higher after a report that the White House asked the Pentagon to draw up strike options against Iran that could be executed before the midterm elections, and as a storm shut some US output.

Transit routes in the Strait of Hormuz deemed illegal by Iran will soon be closed, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guards' Commander told the semi-official Fars News Agency on Wednesday, referring to the southern pathway hugging Oman's coast.

Iranian official says 'illegal Hormuz routes' to soon be blocked

The holding company of Canada's Weston family has agreed to buy British health and beauty retailer Boots from private equity firm Sycamore Partners and the Pessina family for US$8.9 billion (RM36.4 billion), including debt, it said on Wednesday.

The Edge Property Excellence Awards 2024

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The Edge Property Excellence Awards 2024

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