BY: KELLY TEY

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Tew (left) and Kho giving their thumbs up to the event.

IT was an evening dedicated to the crème de la crème of the real estate industry.

The Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) hosted a cosy cocktail soiree to relish the success of the National Real Estate Awards held earlier this month.

Some 45 guests attended the party, including MIEA board members, its past presidents, the award-winning real estate agents and negotiators, as well as sponsors and members of the media.

“We wanted a night that’s committed to appreciating those who have made a difference to the awards ceremony and brought impact to the industry,” said MIEA president Erick Kho.

He said the award, which was held on a national level, took to new heights where they placed strong emphasis on equal chance of recognition for firms and agents within the field.

There were 19 categories to the award, which were presented to agents, negotiators and firms to mark their achievements.

Among the notable titles were Top Realtor 2015, which was awarded to CBD Properties Sdn Bhd group managing director Datuk Adrian Wang, Hartamas Real Estate (M) Sdn Bhd who was named Top Real Estate Firm 2015 as well as Axis REIT Managers Berhad director Stephen Tew, who was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kho, who is Mapleland Properties principal, said the institution has made great strides in the last two years, one of which is to register real estate negotiators under the board’s purview.

“In the past, negotiators are employed under the agencies and they weren’t properly acknowledged by the board.

“Today, we have registered many negotiators, drawing a clear line between those who are practising officially and those who do not,” shared Koh.

He said the board recognises about 2,000 registered real-estate agents and approximately 17,000 registered real estate negotiators.

Kho also noted that a cocktail get-together as such was a first in MIEA’s history, and it served as an added venue for members, winners and sponsors to connect and interact.