GEORGE TOWN – The real estate industry has lost one of its prominent members to Covid-19 today when Michael Geh Thuan Peng died after several days in the intensive care unit at the Penang Hospital.
Geh, the former president of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Malaysian chapter, was a key media personality and a real estate consultant, who contributed extensively in helping the industry and the media better understand each other.
He was also instrumental in branding FIABCI’s property awards gala as one of the biggest industry events of the past two decades.
Geh majored in valuation and land economics, where he advised many property developers.
“He was a good man, and I will miss his valuable input on the property scene,” said Penang Housing, Local Government and Town Planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo.
He also extended his condolences to Geh’s family.
Geh, 57, leaves behind wife Celia Fung Fui Ling and daughter Nicole Geh Ai Ming.
Tributes began pouring in for Geh, who was an old boy of SMK St Xavier's Institution.
A former regional editor with The Star newspaper said that Geh was beyond press savvy.
“His ‘buddy-buddy’ disposition with editors and journalists earned him a lot of goodwill and he was always an easy reference point on real estate trends.”
FIABCI Malaysian chapter president Datuk Koe Peng Kang, who took over from Geh, said the association members are extremely saddened by his death.
“We will miss him dearly as we mourn the loss of a good leader who had contributed enormously to the growth of the FIABCI for the past two decades. This challenging time will move on, but the memory of him will be in our minds. Rest in peace, dear friend.”
Yu Kee Su, the FIABCI East Asia chapter secretary said, the international real estate community has lost a star, who was passionate about enhancing Malaysia’s involvement in the networking of real estate practitioners.
Former Penang Real Estate Housing Developers (REHDA) chapter chairman Datuk Toh Chin Leong said they were keeping vigil for the past few days as Geh battled the virus while he was intubated.
“We were given a glimmer of hope this morning when we were informed, he was improving but suddenly in the afternoon, he was gone. We will miss his input on the property market.” – The Vibes, May 15, 2021
