Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin, executive chairman of Eco World Development Group Bhd, has been named an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his contributions to the reconstruction of Battersea Power Station in South London, United Kingdom (UK).
The former SP Setia Bhd chief executive officer was honoured for his efforts in transforming the Battersea Power Station into an integrated retail, office, leisure, and housing real estate project, as well as his contributions to strengthening trade and investment ties between the United Kingdom and Malaysia.
The Battersea project was Malaysia's largest inward investment into the UK under Liew's leadership.
In 2012, Liew led a consortium comprising SP Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Berhad, and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Board to a successful bid for the redevelopment of the Battersea Power Station from a dormant electricity-generating station into an integrated retail, office, leisure, and housing real estate.
In the same year, he was named the first chairman of the Battersea Project Holding Company, a post he held until September 2015.
On behalf of His Majesty King Charles III, the British High Commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay, hosted an investiture ceremony at his official residence in London to bestow the award on Liew.
Liew was acknowledged for his contributions to the success of the landmark Battersea redevelopment initiative and other UK projects, as well as his contribution to UK-Malaysia trade and investment ties, according to Hay.
"His immense contribution has created huge economic benefits and tremendous value in the green regeneration agenda. His remarkable acumen, vision, and determination are attributes admired by his peers and inspirational to others," he said.
Liew, who formed Eco World International Bhd, which has joint ventures with UK firms Ballymore and Willmott Dixon to conduct significant development projects in the UK, said that he is working hard to raise Malaysia's profile on a worldwide scale.
"I want to highlight my appreciation to the British and Malaysian governments for their generous and unwavering support when the various projects and ideas for development, inbound and outbound investments were presented to them.
"I am overwhelmed that a kampung boy like me would be bestowed an award from Britain. But to go all the way to Britain for work and to get recognised for what I did is mind-boggling. If my parents knew what I had achieved with the British, they would have been proud.
"This award will certainly motivate me to make more positive changes as we all endeavour to play a meaningful role to help make our planet a better place," he said after the investiture ceremony on June 1.
The citation was read out by Hay, and the event was attended by Liew's family members and friends.