20TH PRESIDENT OF THE OLD PUTERA ASSOCIATION

OP DATUK SERI (DR) MICHAEL K. C. YAM SMW, DSNS, FCIOB, FRICS, DUNIV (Heriot-Watt)

President, the Royal Military College Old Putera Association

15th SEPTEMBER 2023

A visionary doyen of multiple industries, OP Michael Yam Kong Choy, was appointed the Chancellor of the University of Wollongong Malaysia on 15 August 2021, and as the Champion of the Construction & Built Environment Nexus on 8 March 2022 by the Government. He is currently the Chairman of the Triterra Group of Companies and several other investment holding companies including Mercure KL Glenmarie Hotel.

OP Michael Yam has an illustrious career, spanning over 40 years in the construction, real estate and corporate sectors, not only in Malaysia but also in the UK, South Africa and Australia. He had helmed two award winning public-listed property companies as Managing Director and CEO prior to his early retirement in 2008 and served in blue chip corporations such as Bahman Consulting Engineers, Works Department of UK’s NHS, Landmarks Berhad, Peremba Malaysia, Country Heights Holdings Berhad and Sunrise Berhad over the years.

He was at various times between 2009-2022 appointed as the Senior Independent Director of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad, Paramount Corporation Berhad and CMS Berhad while also serving as Independent Non-Executive Director of Sunway Berhad, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad and Standard Chartered Saadiq Berhad. Concurrently, he had also served as Chairman of the Risk Committee of the Bank, Finance & Investment Committee of Malaysia Airports, Eraman Duty Free, Sama Sama Hotel and Kwasa Land Sdn Bhd.

In June 2023 he stepped down as the 119th President of the Chartered Institute of Building leading a global professional membership of 48,000 an as Chairman of InvestKL Corporation after 11 years tenure at the helm of this Government Investment Promotion Agency. Other appointments he had held in the past include being a three-term member of the Advisory Board of the City of Kuala Lumpur, director of the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, director of the regulator Construction Industry Development Board and Construction Labour Exchange Berhad. He is the Past President, Patron and current National Council member of REHDA and sits as a trustee and board member of REHDA Institute and GreenRE respectively.

OP Michael Yam graduated in Building and Management Studies from the University of Westminster, UK and subsequently obtained his professional qualifications as a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building where he achieved history as the first Malaysian and second Asian to be elected President in its 190-year history. He was conferred a Fellowship of the Construction Industry Development Board in 2015, Honorary Member of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents in 2017 and earlier this year the “Lifetime Achievement Award” for the Engineering, Construction and Property Industry by Balai Ikhtisas Malaysia. In 2021, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of Heriot-Watt University, he was conferred the Honorary Doctorate of the University. OP Michael Yam is an Adjunct Professor and guest lecturer at various institutions of higher learning including UTAR’s master’s degree Course in Real Estate.

OP Michael Yam was in the Royal Military College (RMC) from year 1969 to year 1972 (Form IV – U VI). He is a Life Member of the Old Putera Association, (OPA) the alumni of the former students at the Royal Military College and has served as a Committee Member of his alumni. He was awarded the “OP of the Year – 2014” by his alumni for his prominence as an Old Putera and for his contributions to his alumni. He was elected (no contest) as the 20th President of the Old Putera Association (OPA) for a 2-year term (2023-2025) at its 53rd Annual General Meeting held on 2 September 2023. He is also an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club and honored with a “Paul Harris Fellowship” for his charitable and contribution to the community.

In recognition for his services and contributions to the economic development and well-being of the nation, he was conferred the “Darjah Dato’ Setia Negeri Sembilan” (DSNS) which carries the title “Dato’” by DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan in 2022 and the “Darjah Seri Mahkota Wilayah” (SMW) which carries the title “Datuk Seri” by DYMM SPB Yang Di-Pertuan Agong in 2011.

OP Michael Yam is married to Datin Seri Cindy Lim and is blessed with two daughters and two sons. His leisure time is spent golfing, tennis, travelling, reading and spending time with his fellow OPs of Intake 1969 at “Teh Tarik” sessions and gatherings.