There is a new but not unfamiliar name this year at the No 1 spot of The Edge Top Property Developers Awards 2009. Sime Darby Property Bhd (SDP), the property division of Sime Darby Bhd, wrested the top spot from S P Setia Bhd, which had held the position the past four consecutive years. SDP, which did not feature in the ranking last year, certainly made its presence felt this year.

Bashed by impact of the global financial crisis, property stocks were bad news last year. There was no running away from the close link between the economy and the property market. Neither has Malaysia decoupled from the rest of the world as some quarters had earlier touted.

Sime Darby Property Bhd clinches the top spot in The Edge Top Property Developers Awards 2009, proving that size does matter if you want to stay ahead of the competition.

A different S P Setia is set to emerge with a three-pronged strategy designed to see the company through the current crisis. Its long-term goal is to grow into a regional and international property player.

Sunway City has big plans and while the global financial crisis may have decelerated some of these plans, the developer has its sights firmly trained on the future.

By sticking to its 'conserve when times are good, capitalise when times are bad' approach, IGB Corp has weathered many an economic storm, emerging stronger after each downturn.

I&P Group Sdn Bhd's positive sales performance in recent months sees it primed to continue through 2009

The journey taken by I&P Group Sdn Bhd to become one of Malaysia’s top property developers has seen it go through many changes.

While strong financials have been an asset in weathering tough economic times, IOI Properties is also looking to property investment for future growth

Lessons learnt from the Asian financial crisis have helped BDRB to weather the present downturn well

When the recent financial crisis sent the property market reeling, Eastern & Oriental Bhd did not panic. It had learnt its lesson well during the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis. This time round, says managing director Datuk Terry Tham, the developer just restrategised to keep the company afloat.