BM Highland aims to be a gated and guarded community that houses 149 units of bungalows, semi-detached and terraced houses. It is a freehold property, located in the rural Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Taman Jadi Group is the developer behind this ongoing project.BM Highland boasts 15 units of bungalows, 46 units of semi-detached, 45 units of 3-storey terraced house and 43 units of 2-storey terraced house. The numbers of bedrooms are either four or five, and bathrooms range from 3 to 5, depending on the unit. The 2-storey terraced house costs the least with RM378,800 and the bungalow's price begins at RM778,800.The designs of the units at BM Highland take account a lot of aspects to make them very comfortable for the occupants. The front-porch is spacious, the wet and dry kitchen combo is practical, and a terrace is attached to the master bedroom. Both type of terraced houses feature high ceiling, with the 3-storey units incorporating SoHo concept in its layout. The family hall is ensured to be more than comfortable, and the houses are faced either north or south, evading the scorching sunlight at late noon. The best would be the underground plantation of the ugly TNB and Telekom cables, removing them from sight. Smartly enough, an independent management company will take care of BM Highland, confirming efficient management.Surely, such hidden neighbourhood like BM Highland needs to be shielded from criminals, thus the implementation of a 7' high concrete fencing. This ensures privacy, aside safety too. A convincing single entry and exit point is utilised, with 24/7 security patrol and CCTV cameras in effect. Interestingly, the developer is trying to put up a high-rise residential feel to BM Highland, with facilities such as a clubhouse, function hall, reading room, swimming and wading pool, playground, outdoor gymnasium and a jogging track.Located in the area that is removed from the chaos of the city, amenities are not a commodity at BM Highland. Other than the two Tesco hypermarkets being 5 km away, only the St. Anne church and schools such as SK Machang Bubok, SMK Machang Bubok and SMK St. Anne's Convent can be considered as significant landmarks.Public transportation is scarce, and the roads that lead out of BM Highland is rather minor roads, not major. They are Jalan Besar, Jalan Kulim, Jalan Gajah Mati and Jalan Tasek. Jalan Kulim is useful because it leads to Jalan Song Ban Ken and Jalan Bukit Minyak, which in turn lead to Federal Highway. Another is Jalan Rozhan. Jalan Tasek is also a practical one, with possible destinations such as Junjong, Auto City, the Penang Bridge, Auto City, the second Penang Bridge and also the North - South Highway (PLUS).
Property Details
Name: BM Highland Address: Jalan Gajah Mati, Machang Bubok, Bukit Mertajam, 14000 Seberang Perai, Penang Developer: Taman Jadi Group Completion Date: Construction on-going Type: 2-Storey Bungalow, Semi-Detached, Terraced House and 3-Storey Terraced House Tenure: Freehold No. of Storey: 2 & 3 No. of Units: 149 2-Storey Bungalow: 15 2-Storey Semi-Detached: 46 3-Storey Terraced House: 45 2-Storey Terraced House: 43 No. of Bedrooms: 4 - 5 No. of Bathrooms: 3 - 5 Land Area: 2-Storey Bungalow: 4,414 - 6,911 sf 2-Storey Semi-Detached: 2,767 - 6,071 sf 3-Storey Terraced House: From 1,443 sf 2-Storey Terraced House: From 1,421 sf Built-up: 1,904 - 3,434 sf Launch Price: 2-Storey Bungalow: RM778,800 2-Storey Semi-Detached: RM548,800 3-Storey Terraced House: RM488,800 2-Storey Terraced House: RM378,800Layouts
2-Storey Bungalow 5 bedrooms + 4 bathrooms (3,434 sf) 2-Storey Semi-Detached 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms (2,349 sf) 3-Storey Terraced House 5 bedrooms + 5 bathrooms (2,791 sf) 2-Storey Terraced House 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms (1,904 sf)Facilities
Barbecue area Club house Function hall Children's reading room Table tennis Swimming pool Wading pool Children's playground Jogging park Outdoor gymnasium Landscape gardenAnalysis
A look at Taman Jadi Group's portfolio reveals rather unglamorous ability that the company has demonstrated. These properties are Taman Fajar Indah, Taman Puyuh and Taman Cenderawasih Indah. They are certainly not one of those developers that come up with 5-star rated serviced residence. But they are certainly trying with BM Highland. Hence, nothing is proven, but at the same time nothing is certain yet.However, more negatives have emanated out of this property, rather than the positives. True, the location of BM Highland is secluded, which points to fresh air, serenity and natural greenery. Traffic jam is also a rarity, as compared to the crazy roads and drivers of the central Penang Island. Plus the details that have been put in the planning of the neighbourhood should also be applauded, with innovations such as underground cables and north and south facing units.But, the negatives seem to be overflowing off the list. First up we have the terrible location. The location is too isolated, making it far away from fabulous city amenities, and thus raising the concerns over its excessive price. Then the roads around the property is narrow, quiet and very dark at night, making it very dangerous for single drivers. The proximity of Taman Bidara also begs a question. That neighbourhood is filled with unused house and shop lots, making it seems like a dead town. Then a lot of foreigners stay in the single storey houses and the flats, an ambiguous and arguable indication of lack of security and safety in the area. Flood has also occured previously in Taman Bidara, close to BM Highland. Finally, it is said that the development is close to a chicken rearing farm, contributing to a high number of flies being around. Many have pointed this out when being close to the property.A glance to the pros and cons list shows that this property seems to be a risky one. Those who dare to brave through the roads at night, and is looking there for a peace of mind, might find this to be a useful property. Families can be sure of the security that the management is providing, it is just that going out of the property is not advisable. Those who are looking to invest, make sure you have identified the future tenants before making any decisions. A closer look is encouraged before any purchase.
