Sunway Group founder Jeffrey Cheah once played drums for Olivia Newton-John, now he’s opening a RM200m arts centre

Malaysian billionaire Jeffrey Cheah, founder of Sunway Group, has unveiled a RM200 million arts centre in Sunway Square, Petaling Jaya. The Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) aims to provide world-class facilities for Malaysian artists to develop their talents and contribute to the growth of the creative economy. Cheah emphasized that the centre, launched with a keynote address, would serve as a platform for artistes to pursue meaningful careers and collaborate with international counterparts.

The launch featured a spectacular performance titled "Brand New Day: A Symphonic Broadway Celebration," which showcased the centre's capabilities with 22 singers, eight dancers, and the 73-piece TUTAN Festival Orchestra. Cheah expressed his belief that Malaysian artists deserved the same opportunities as those in other fields and hoped JCPAC would foster strong relationships with global arts organizations.

The 1,200-seat Grand Theatre, inspired by Sunway City's tin mining landscape, boasts advanced sound systems and adaptable acoustics for various performances. Upcoming productions include Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical. Cheah's personal connection to music stems from his involvement in The Ambassadors, a band that once backed Olivia Newton-John in Melbourne, Australia, during the 1960s.