This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on July 28, 2025 - August 3, 2025

Ishak Ismail is founder and managing director of IM Global Property Consultants Sdn Bhd, a property consulting firm registered with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents and Property Managers (Bovaea). He has been in real estate practice since 1991 and was licensed by Bovaea to practise as a registered valuer, estate agent and property manager in 1998.

Ishak is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and has been a registered chartered surveyor since 2008. In 2015, he was accredited as a certified valuation specialist and business valuer by the International Association of Consultants, Valuators and Analysts. He has also been actively involved in the auction industry since 1992, after obtaining a licence to conduct auctions for Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Penang. In recent years, he has been appointed real estate investment trust (REIT) property manager for Damansara REIT Managers Sdn Bhd (Al-Aqar KPJ REIT), Pelaburan Hartanah Nasional Bhd and Pelaburan Hartanah Bumiputera.

He is president of the Malaysian Institute of Property and Facility Managers and vice-president of Fiabci Malaysia.

The 2025 Awards celebrates excellence in property management that integrates innovation, sustainability and community impact. This year’s winners have demonstrated exceptional leadership in operational efficiency, environmental responsibility and tenant engagement. The judges were impressed with the strategic adoption of green technologies, data-driven asset management and commitment to environmental, social and governance principles.

These properties exemplify how professional management can extend asset life cycles, enhance liveability and deliver long-term value for stakeholders. Special recognition goes to those who balanced financial performance with measurable sustainability outcomes, setting new benchmarks for the industry. Congratulations to all finalists and winners for driving progress and redefining best practices in property and facilities management.

Zuhairy Md Isa is deputy CEO of AmREIT Managers Sdn Bhd, manager of AmFIRST Real Estate Investment Trust and vice-chairman of the Malaysian REIT Managers Association (MRMA). He has held positions at MIDF Property Bhd, overseeing land planning, development and marketing of industrial parks across Malaysia and Indonesia. He was also responsible for the company’s subsidiaries in logistics and a joint venture in Indonesia.

Zuhairy graduated from the University of Newcastle Upon-Tyne, the UK, with a postgraduate diploma and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Degree in Town Planning.

He also holds the Capital Markets Services Representative’s Licence under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 and is a registered property manager with Bovaea.

I extend my sincere congratulations to not only the winners but also all participants for their remarkable demonstration of the paramount significance of property management in fulfilling the expectations of stakeholders. Through their efforts, they have ensured the quality and sustainability of the properties, thereby enhancing their values.

My inaugural role as a judge provided me with the privilege of interacting with seasoned judges who possess a wealth of knowledge and expertise. In addition, The Edge Malaysia deserves commendation for its consistent efforts in hosting this prestigious award. I can attest to the rigorous process and unwavering commitment to continuously elevating the standards of property management and sustainable development. These initiatives will spur those involved in property management not only to meet the expectations of stakeholders but also contribute to the enhancement of property values and most importantly, their sustainability.

Datuk N K Tong is group managing director of Bukit Kiara Properties Sdn Bhd, a niche developer that offers innovative lifestyles. He is the immediate past president of the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia, an independent non-executive director at Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia and a Sustainability and Climate Risk certified professional. He has a degree in architecture from the University of Manchester, the UK and a Master of Business Administration in real estate finance from the Wharton School of Business, the US.

The standards of property management continue to get better and better each year. This augurs well for the rakyat, both in improving the standard of their lifestyles and protecting the value of their investments. I hope more property managers rise to the challenge and submit their entries for next year.

Anthony Lee Tee is an accredited architect, forensic building inspector and trainer at Architect Centre Sdn Bhd. A member of the Malaysian Institute of Architects, he is the honorary secretary in 2025/26 and has chaired the secretariat and finance, professional practice and disciplinary committees. He has more than three decades’ experience in the regional construction industry. He is also group chief operating officer at Bina Puri Group of Companies, overseeing the construction business operations. He is actively involved in numerous dispute resolution matters, including mediation and arbitration, and has acted as a court-appointed expert on building defects.

This year, we saw more entries from a widening base of professional property managers. Owners are increasingly aware of the importance of working with experts to ensure their properties are well managed for long-term sustainability, safety and value.

The top submissions emphasise financial sustainability, best practices in facility management and security to maintain property value over time. The best-managed buildings are clearly those that have strict financial discipline in collection and expenditure, while adapting to ageing infrastructure, rising costs and the need for wise resource management and ongoing staff training — key ingredients for success!

Past Gold winners that resubmit continue to challenge themselves — with some improving their offerings and others struggling to keep pace.

Congratulations to all hard-working winners of this hard-working award.

Lim Lan Yuan is president of the Association of Property and Facility Managers and several other allied professional organisations. He chaired a Technical Committee that introduces standards and technical references for building maintenance and management. He is a tribunal member of the Strata Titles Board in Singapore and author of the book A Guide to Management Corporations and several publications on property and facility management.

Congratulations to all the winners for their achievement! They continued to maintain a high quality and standard in management and operations. Entries that were not selected would do well to learn from the winning projects.

An interesting observation this year is the greater participation of property management firms. Over the years, the Awards has served as a benchmark for quality and standard in property management not only for developers, architects, builders and owners but also managing agents. This trend augurs well for Malaysia’s real estate and construction sector, as well-managed developments move towards becoming the industry norm.

Au Foong Yee is an editor emeritus at The Edge Malaysia. She conceptualised and is chief judge of The Edge Malaysia Best Managed & Sustainable Property Awards 2025

This year marks the ninth edition of the annual Awards, an initiative dedicated to raising standards in property management across Malaysia.

At its core, the judging criteria are anchored in professional property management principles — those that truly drive long-term value creation and sustainability. After a rigorous review of submissions, judges shortlist entries for physical site inspections, which play a critical role in the evaluation process.

Notably, the judging criteria are published and made transparent, serving as a guide for participants. Some assume, however, that simply checking off the listed requirements is sufficient. That is a misconception. These are baseline expectations, not a guaranteed path to the shortlist. Submissions that do not go beyond the checklist typically do not progress further.

To be recognised as “excellently managed”, a property must show more — through thoughtful initiatives, consistent excellence, forward thinking, embracing of technology and meaningful impact. The onus lies with the submitting parties to communicate these strengths clearly and substantively.

A key factor that consistently stands out is the presence of a collaborative, respectful relationship between the property manager, residents and their representatives. During site visits, it is especially encouraging to witness residents stepping forward to talk about their journey — many even volunteer their professional expertise through committee roles. It is only where teamwork prevails and egos are set aside that true progress is possible.

A cordial and committed partnership between management and community forms the bedrock of exceptional property stewardship.

A final reflection: If you own or rent a stratified property, ask yourself — why hasn’t your building been entered for this free-to-enter Awards? Is your property manager delivering real value? And, if not, what could be improved?

These are questions worth asking — for the future of your property and the communities they serve.

With more than 43 years of experience, Richard Chan is an adviser to the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association, which he helped found in 1984. He is a founding member of the Building Management Association of Malaysia and has been a corporate member of its national committee since 2010. He is also a member of Fiabci Malaysia. In 2018, he was appointed a registered property manager and has been called to serve as a board member (2019 to 2021 and 2021 to the present) with Bovaea.

Another year, another wave of entries, more enthusiasm and more excitement. But excellence in property management and sustainability is not just about winning. It is about commitment, determination and the creativity to perform not just outside the box, but as if the box never existed.

The standards set by authorities, joint management bodies, owners, occupants and the public are important. But it is the expectations we set for ourselves that truly matter. To strive, month after month, day after day, for what is better.

True achievement means constantly reaching for the best that is yet to come. Only then will you achieve your goals.

Chris Tan Chur Pim has been a practising lawyer since 2000. He founded Chur Associates in 2003. He is a regular speaker at corporate, academic and public events in Malaysia and overseas, a guest commentator on Chinese and English radio and TV stations as well as a frequent contributor of articles to local and overseas media publications — both print and online — in English, Chinese and Malay, especially on the topic of real estate.

Considering “property management-friendly” features in any development is no longer an option or luxury — it has become the foundation of good property development. As basic housing needs evolve, effective property management is now a form of community-building, balancing the hard elements of brick and mortar with the soft aspects of human harmony.

This is where responding to diverse needs and expectations turns a development into a true building complex. The ability to adapt to a fast-changing social landscape is the glue that keeps a property sustainable and relevant to the community it serves. We must carefully consider the intricate nature of its unique community “membership”, which is now inseparable from property ownership.

This edition of the Awards reflects the growing maturity and practical integration of property management from both the builders’ and users’ perspectives. Older buildings are navigating the need for capital reinvestment to remain relevant, while newer ones are adapting to advanced features that often outpace everyday functionality. In this complex ecosystem of stakeholders, a good property manager is just one essential piece of the puzzle.

I am pleased with the maturity of this year’s entries, which showcase greater innovation in addressing ongoing challenges to keep communities sustainable in the face of evolving needs. The winners stand out as valuable examples of how to sustain and manage properties effectively — unlocking real value for every “community member”.

E Jacqui Chan is senior editor of City & Country at The Edge Malaysia

It is heartening to witness the rising standards, stronger professionalism and deepening commitment among property managers year after year. These award-winning projects showcase what is possible when management corporations or joint management bodies work hand in hand with their property managers, tackling challenges with clarity, purpose and collaboration. Together, they demonstrate that property management and maintenance is more than just about upkeep. It is about building trust, value and communities.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Au Foong Yee is an editor emeritus at The Edge Malaysia and chief judge of The Edge Malaysia-ILAM Sustainable Landscape Awards 2025

Landscaping standards, styles and trends have evolved significantly. As green spaces become even greener, sustainability now sits at the heart of landscape planning and design not only in Malaysia but globally.

Gone are the days when flora, shrubs and trees alone defined a landscaped space. Today’s landscape design embraces a far more complex, integrated approach, one that responds to growing ecological and economic challenges.

Aesthetics, colours, forms and textures are no longer the sole focus. Instead, priorities now include enhancing biodiversity, mitigating environmental risks and reducing ecological impact — all while shaping vibrant public realms that promote well-being and foster community connections.

One increasingly adopted philosophy is biophilic design — an approach that goes beyond greenery to reintroduce nature holistically into built environments. The goal: to strengthen the human-nature connection in ways that support both physical and mental wellness.

This year’s award-winning projects exemplify this ethos. After careful deliberation, the judges have selected four Gold winners. No Silver, Bronze or Special Mention awards were given — a testament to the high bar set. Each winner, while facing unique challenges, demonstrated excellence and innovation deserving of recognition.

Finally, let us remember that even the most visionary landscaping plans and designs will not endure without robust, ongoing quality management. The long-term success of these green spaces lies in how well they are maintained — ensuring they continue to address urban issues such as pollution, flooding and the urban heat island effect.

Congratulations to all those behind our winning projects. You are making a meaningful difference in the communities you serve.

Assoc Prof LAr Dr Nor Atiah Ismail is president of the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) and vice-president of the Malaysia Professional Centre. With more than 20 years of experience, she is a driving force in sustainable design, cultural heritage preservation and policy advocacy. As an associate professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia, her academic and professional work bridges innovation, community values and environmental resilience. She has served the International Federation of Landscape Architects Asia-Pacific Region since 2012, championing Nature-based Solutions (NbS), climate action and regional collaboration. Dr Nor Atiah is a sought-after keynote speaker and a respected judge for prominent industry awards. Her work reflects a deep belief that landscapes are living systems — integrating identity, ecology and future-thinking. She brings to the jury panel a holistic, multidisciplinary perspective rooted in design excellence, academic rigour and a passionate commitment to shaping meaningful and sustainable places.

This year’s judging process spanned detailed desktop evaluations, on-site assessments and a conclusive deliberation that offered more than just a review of submissions. It presented a clear lens into the evolving mindset of Malaysia’s built environment industry. What emerged was not simply design excellence but a paradigm shift: developers and professionals are embracing NbS, not as design accessories but as core frameworks guiding the future of urban and landscape development.

Across the submissions, we witnessed a strong commitment to ecological integrity, social well-being and long-term resilience. From integrated green infrastructure and ecological corridors to climate-adaptive plantings and water-sensitive urban systems, these projects embody the principle that true sustainability is rooted in nature. More importantly, these landscapes are no longer designed solely for visual impact, but they are engineered to regenerate ecosystems, mitigate floods, reduce urban heat, promote biodiversity and uplift community life.

This is the future Malaysia deserves: a landscape industry that leads not only in aesthetics but also in climate action, public health and national resilience.

The projects we evaluated this year reflect a growing national capacity to build spaces that are not just liveable but life-giving. These developments are blueprints for policy integration. They exemplify what is possible when government frameworks, professional excellence and public-private collaboration align under a shared vision.

As we move towards the government’s RM60 billion targets for the landscape industry by 2030, these awards remind us that this goal is not only achievable but also essential. To get there, we must mainstream NbS into urban planning policies, infrastructure investment and national development priorities. This means rethinking how we design townships, regulate land use, structure maintenance policies and measure economic returns not by gross domestic product alone, but by green capital, social equity and ecological health.

It is time we regard landscape not as decoration but as nation-building infrastructure. The Edge Malaysia-ILAM Sustainable Landscape Awards 2025 invites you to witness the emergence of a new Malaysia — one taking shape through green, inclusive and resilient landscapes. These are not just award-winning projects; they are living arguments for change. With the right support, they can become the standard, not the exception.

Let this year’s Awards be more than recognition. Let them be the launchpad for a policy revolution where nature is no longer a backdrop to development but its guiding blueprint.

E Jacqui Chan is senior editor of City & Country at The Edge Malaysia

Green spaces have become more than just a visual reprieve; they are vital lungs, quiet sanctuaries and powerful tools of resilience. This year’s winners of The Edge Malaysia-ILAM Sustainable Landscape Awards have demonstrated that landscape design is no longer about aesthetics alone. It is a force for ecological balance, social cohesion and even economic value.

Through thoughtful planning, design and long-term maintenance, these projects prove that nature has an essential role to play in addressing some of our most pressing urban challenges, from mitigating floods and lowering ambient temperatures to restoring biodiversity and improving mental well-being. More than ever, NbS are being embraced not just to shape developments or cities, but also to future-proof them.

And observed across the entries, the local landscape scene is clearly evolving. There is a growing recognition of the multifaceted value of well-designed landscapes. These projects are not merely about beautifying space; they are about shaping better places where we can live, work and belong.

Congratulations to the winners!

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