The high achievers with (fifth from left to right), Mr Seth Quek, Prof Raymond Xavier Chan, Vice President of SHAREDA and Dr Chook.
In a continuing tradition of industry-academic excellence, TAR UMT and Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA) celebrated the achievements of the University’s top-performing real estate students at the SHAREDA Book Prize Award 2026, held on 10 February 2026.
The ceremony recognised 10 exceptional graduates from the Bachelor of Real Estate Management (Honours) programme. These high-achieving ‘TARCians’ were selected based on rigorous criteria, including maintaining a top 10 CGPA for their graduating batch and demonstrating exemplary conduct. They are Chong Jia Cheng, Sim Kim Liang, Tan Ying Wen, Lew Jia Zheng, Michelle Wong Xin Yun, Isabella Chin Jing Yi, Lee Jia Qi, Chai Kai En, Loh Jia Qin, and Fong Manlyi.
In his speech, Associate Professor Dr Chook Ka Joo, Vice President of TAR UMT, emphasised that the students' success reflects the University’s commitment to nation-building and providing professional services to Malaysia’s vital property market. "Your hard work has raised the benchmark for future TARCians pursuing a career in real estate. You have proved that you possess the character and competence to excel in your future careers."
Mr Seth Quek Teck Seng, Secretary General of SHAREDA, congratulated the students for their remarkable results. He also said, “This is the third time that SHAREDA has contributed the book prize for the top students of the Faculty of Built Environment (FOBE). We do this because we believe that investment in education is an investment in people, as people are the foundation for a resilient and responsible industry. We are not only celebrating good grades, but we are also celebrating discipline, curiosity and the ability to tackle complex challenges, skills that are essential in the built environment profession.
The SHAREDA Book Prize Award is a testament to the enduring collaboration between the University and the real estate industry. This year, the prizes totalled RM3,000, continuing a supportive trend seen in previous awards in 2022 and 2024.
Beyond the awards, the ceremony served as a knowledge-sharing platform, featuring two guest lectures by industry experts from SHAREDA, providing students with insights into current real estate trends and challenges.
