Oriental Interest Berhad launches latest affordable housing development

Oriental Interest Berhad (OIB) launches Myra Idaman, its latest affordable housing development under the Rumah Idaman programme, which is being marketed under the name Gardens Idaman.

Spanning 11.226 acres with a Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM163.8 million, Gardens Idaman will comprise 616 semi-furnished apartment units priced from RM250,000 to RM270,000. Each unit will also come with two carparks.

The leasehold development is scheduled for completion in 2030 and has been designed as a gated and guarded community for first-time homebuyers and growing families.

William Lew, General Manager (Essential BU) of Myra, OIB’s residential property arm, said Selangor’s Rumah Idaman programme has played an important role in expanding access to quality affordable housing across the state. He added that OIB is proud to contribute to the programme’s objective of making quality homeownership more accessible to Selangor residents.

“The Rumah Idaman programme has established a strong benchmark for making quality homeownership more accessible to first-time homebuyers across Selangor. As one of the participating developers, our role extends beyond delivering homes that meet the programme’s requirements. We are continuously looking at how we can create added value for homeowners and the communities they will live in,” he said.

The launch also marks another milestone for OIB’s affordable housing portfolio, with both Gardens Idaman and the upcoming Saujana Idaman development in Dengkil having received Provisional GreenRE Bronze certification, recognising the projects’ commitment to environmentally responsible and sustainable development practices.

GreenRE is Malaysia’s green building certification scheme established by the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA), recognising developments that meet sustainability benchmarks across areas such as energy efficiency, water efficiency, environmental protection and indoor environmental quality.

While sustainability standards are becoming increasingly recognised across Malaysia’s property sector, GreenRE-certified affordable housing developments remain relatively uncommon, highlighting the growing importance of integrating sustainable design into homes that remain accessible to a wider segment of Malaysians.

Lew added that while GreenRE certification is not a requirement under the Rumah Idaman programme, OIB believes sustainability should become an increasingly important part of affordable housing rather than a feature associated only with premium developments.

“There is often a perception that sustainability is reserved for higher-end developments. We believe affordable housing deserves the same commitment to creating healthier, more efficient and future-ready communities.

“While GreenRE certification is not a requirement under the Rumah Idaman programme and remains relatively uncommon among affordable housing developments, we believe meaningful sustainability can be achieved without compromising affordability when these considerations are integrated from the earliest stages of design. Receiving Provisional GreenRE Bronze certification for both Gardens Idaman and Saujana Idaman is an important milestone that reinforces this commitment,” he added.

Gardens Idaman incorporates a range of sustainable design measures, including a high-performance building envelope to reduce heat gain, 100% water-efficient fittings, lower-carbon construction materials, reusable aluminium system formwork, energy-efficient lift systems, low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and natural daylight optimisation.
Together, these measures are expected to improve energy and water efficiency, enhance indoor environmental quality and create more comfortable living environments for residents.

Based on the GreenRE assessment, Gardens Idaman is expected to achieve approximately 30.61% energy savings compared with the GreenRE baseline while reducing operational carbon emissions by an estimated 337 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) each year.

Located in one of Selangor’s growth corridors, Gardens Idaman offers convenient connectivity to Rawang, Sungai Buloh, Kwasa Damansara, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur via the Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor (LATAR) Expressway, Guthrie Corridor Expressway and the North-South Expressway (NSE), while also providing easy access to schools, healthcare facilities, recreational amenities and established commercial centres.

Gardens Idaman is the latest addition to OIB’s growing Rumah Idaman portfolio, following the successful launch of Putra Idaman in Desa Pinggiran Putra in 2024. With Saujana Idaman scheduled for launch in the third quarter of 2026, OIB continues to strengthen its pipeline of affordable housing developments across Selangor while supporting the State’s long-term housing aspirations.