This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on December 21, 2020 - December 27, 2020

Dear readers,

The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Awards (TEPEA), which was conceived in 2003, is considered an industry benchmark that recognises companies with sustainable financial strength and that deliver quality products for both homeowners and investors.

In the past, to recognise the top property developers, we held black-tie events with great fanfare and camaraderie. However, Covid-19 threw a spanner in the works this year.

Be that as it may, to keep some form of “business as usual”, we decided to continue with our annual awards ceremony, but on a more personal level. I had the privilege of presenting each developer in our Top Property Developers Awards (TPDA) category with their award at their respective offices. This intimate and personal approach was certainly a first for all of us but they were cherished opportunities to interact with the developers and glean insights into how they are doing business amid the challenges at hand.

For TPDA, developers are scrutinised based on qualitative and quantitative criteria. In the qualitative evaluation, which makes up 65% of the total score, each company is judged on its expertise, image, innovation and creativity, product quality and value creation for buyers. These companies are judged by a panel of industry personalities — which makes this a peer evaluation — who abstain from casting their scores for companies they are affiliated with.

The quantitative evaluation, which makes up the remaining 35%, is based on the company’s shareholders’ funds, turnover, profitability and cash or gearing.

Listed companies are automatically entered into the awards while private developers are welcome to submit the necessary documentation to be considered.

Congratulations go to S P Setia Bhd for topping the list once again — for the fifth consecutive time as well as the 13th time since the inception of the awards. It also came in tops in the Best in Qualitative Attributes, together with Sunway Bhd (Property Division).

Receiving the Best in Quantitative Attributes award once again was UOA Development Bhd.

Details of the awards, the recipients and the methodology can be found inside the pages of this pullout.

Lastly, I wish to thank all the advertisers and supporters of The Edge Malaysia. It has been a challenging year and we look forward to a better 2021, together.

Datuk Ho Kay Tat
Publisher and group CEO
The Edge Media Group

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