A mixed-income housing (MIH) development will begin next year in multiple phases on 1,214.1 hectares of land in Johor's Iskandar Puteri.
Iskandar Capital Sdn Bhd (IskCap), a subsidiary of Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), will develop it on one of the most significant development plots in Iskandar Puteri known as Wawari.
The MIH development, an improved version of the Rumah Mampu Biaya Johor, also known as Value Homes and Value Plus Homes, focuses on a broader target market ranging from low to medium income.
It seeks to reduce segregation by establishing a diverse community in which all levels of society live harmoniously in one integrated community linked by green infrastructures, modern facilities, and high-quality services.
The development will include sustainable amenities such as rainwater harvesting, solar panels, green spaces and canopy trees, and waste management.
IskCap is well-positioned to make sustainable living a reality through this development, thanks to reputable shareholders such as IIB, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
The first MIH project will begin next year and be completed in 2026 near Kota Iskandar and Medini City.
It would be developed in collaboration with Shiya Development Sdn Bhd, which is owned by Shiya Sdn Bhd (Shiya), a civil and building contractor founded in 1983.
Shiya's website lists several projects as current developments, including landed residential, apartments, industrial properties, and a hospital (Johor Specialist Hospital Abdul Samad).
At a recent document exchange ceremony in Iskandar Puteri, Datuk Mohammed Ridha Abd Kadir, the deputy state secretary of Johor (Development), emphasised the importance of close collaboration between the Johor government and the private sector in realising the Johor state agenda.
He expressed satisfaction with IIB's efforts to understand the Johor government's aspirations and embark on an inclusive and sustainable project like the MIH in Iskandar Puteri.
"The MIH project is a perfect example of ensuring holistic development and harmonious living of integrated communities. The infrastructure development must be balanced with social development such as talent building, job creation, and mindset transformation to prepare Johoreans for future development," he said.
Datuk Khairil Anwar Ahmad, president and chief executive officer of IIIB and chairman of Iskcap, expressed a similar sentiment.
"The MIH is a model that promotes fair, equitable, inclusive, and affordable housing for all income levels in Johor. Through this initiative, the low income (B40) and middle income (M40) groups can be neighbours living in one community," he said.
Iskandar Puteri is the largest urban integrated development in South East Asia, comprising 24,000 acres of signature catalytic developments aligned with identified sectors and industries in the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Formerly known as Nusajaya, it was launched in 2007 as one of five flagship zones of Iskandar Malaysia – the country's foremost emerging economic zone.