This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on July 10, 2023 - July 16, 2023

Yee Seng Heights Sdn Bhd plans to launch a collection of 15 bungalow lots with a total gross development value of RM40 million in Gita Bayu on July 15, according to its managing director Alex Lim. Gita Bayu, located in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, is a freehold development spanning 118 acres. It is located south of Kuala Lumpur city centre and can be reached within about 30 minutes by car in favourable traffic conditions.

Situated on elevated land in Jalan Bayu 2, the available bungalow lots range in size from 8,321 to 15,024 sq ft. These lots are part of a larger 12.5-acre parcel that encompasses a total of 48 bungalow lots.

Gita Bayu was first launched in 1996 and its offerings are a mix of individual and cluster bungalows, low-rise apartments and villas, as well as a fully functioning clubhouse dubbed Kebun Mimpi. Facilities include a swimming pool, tennis court, barbecue pits, a dining pavilion, gymnasium, reading room and children’s playground. Lim says the first house was completed by the owner, who moved in in 2000.

Reflecting on the development’s growth throughout the years, Lim recalls the steps taken to transform the land into its current state.

“This was abandoned rubber plantation land. The first thing we did was to retain the existing roads on the plantation land. I grew up in a place with trees, so I would like the same for Gita Bayu, and they keep this place a bit cooler. I have always wanted to create a place like an oasis for people to come home to,” he says.

“We respect the trees and keep them intact. It was difficult but we insisted on no big cuts. Of course, some roads had to be realigned due to the large land area. We started by selling lots and pre-built properties. Later, we also built some landed strata homes and I believe we were one of the first to do so.”

During the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the developer managed to secure good-quality building materials at a lower price to build Kebun Mimpi, 

the residents-only clubhouse. The highlight of the clubhouse, which has an exterior with a tropical design, is the reading room. With its walnut-coloured hardwood walls and flooring, as well as triangular awnings adorning the windows, it exudes an ambience reminiscent of an English cottage.

After nearly 30 years, Yee Seng Heights still possesses about 23 acres of undeveloped land in Gita Bayu that are allocated for future development. These include the 48 bungalow lots spanning 12.5 acres, another residential project covering 10.05 acres, and a shop village occupying 0.45 acres. Lim says the additional residential development is still in the planning stage. Once the shop village, consisting of 11 two-storey shoplots sized 22ft by 75ft near the guardhouse, is finalised, it will signify the completion of all development within Gita Bayu.

“We hope there will be restaurants coming to the shoplots, which will eventually operate inside the clubhouse also. Currently, we have 395 households and, eventually, there won’t be more than 500 households upon the completion of the development. 

[This is] a private and self-contained enclave; the price per square foot here is reasonable. It is a closed community with safer open walking spaces and greenery in abundance,” says Lim.

Emerging from its roots as an abandoned rubber plantation, Gita Bayu is now a sanctuary with lush green surroundings, offering respite from the fast-paced urban lifestyle.

Save by subscribing to us for your print and/or digital copy.

P/S: The Edge is also available on Apple's App Store and Android's Google Play.