Curvo Residences is the final residential phase of the first integrated development in Setapak, SkyArena.
Continue Reading ⋅ 30 January 2023
Sky Habitat, Meldrum Hills is a one-tower, 33-storey, 184 unit freehold Serviced Apartment developed by MB Builders Sdn Bhd under the SKS Group. Built in the centre of town offering excellent accessibility, connectivity and amenities, Sky Habitat showcases five different floor plans for its units – four 2R-2B types under 1000sq ft and one, 3R-2B Type C comprising a built-up of over 1000sq ft – and all are offered at irresistible prices.
Project Name: Sky Habitat, Meldrum Hills, Johor Bahru
Address: Jalan Tenteram, Bukit Meldrum, Tanjung Puteri, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
GPS Coordinates: N 1°27’43.357” E 103°46’9.816”
Website: http://www.sksgroup.com.my/portfolio/skyhabitat/
Developer: MB Builders Sdn Bhd (Co. No. 842965-P)
Developer’s Address: No. 28, Jalan Pandan Ria 7, Pusat Perdagangan Pandan, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor
Tel: 607-333-8168
Fax: 607-335-3168
Email: info@sksgroup.com.my
Sky Habitat@ Medrum Hills Sales Gallery:
Address: Jalan Tenteram Bukit Meldrum, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Open daily 10am – 6pm.
Tel: 6011-3249 9998, 6016-752 1089, 6017-332 8066
Email: info@sksgroup.com.my
Property Details
Property Type: Serviced Apartment
Land Title: Commercial
Tenure: Freehold
Total Land Area: 0.56 acre
No of Towers: 1
No of Storeys: 33
Residential Units: Start from Level 10 − 32
No of Units in Total: 184
Unit Types and Built Up:
- Type A (2R2B) – 875 sq ft
- Type A1 (2R2B) – 833 sq ft
- Type A2 (2R2B) – 960 sq ft
- Type B (2R2B) – 920 sq ft
- Type C (3R2B) – 1,260 sq ft
No of Units per Floor: 8
No of Lifts per Floor: 3 lifts
Facility Level: 9
Parking Levels: Lower Ground, Level 1 – 8
No of Free Car Park Bays per Unit: 1
Listed Price: From RM804,000 – RM1,485,600
Open to Foreigners to purchase
* With special permit, this property follows the old regulation and is exempted from the 1 March 2014 Minimum Property Purchase Price For Foreign Interests Acquisition in KL, Penang And Johor Regulation which fixes the Minimum Threshold for foreign interests at RM 1 million.
Foreigner State Consent Levy (paid to government): 2% of SPA duly stamped or RM20,000 whichever is higher
Maintenance Fee: RM0.30 to 0.40psf
Expected TOP: April 2018
Unique Selling Points:
- A project by the SKS Group, a quality developer with 30 years track record of delivering residential and commercial developments
- Located within the financial district of Iskandar Malaysia Zone A
- Open to Foreign Purchasers (Can buy below the RM1 million cap)
- Aesthetic exterior, spacious interiors with quality finishes
- Walking distance to CIQ (gateway to Singapore and Malaysia) and JB Sentral
- Connected to EDL, Coastal Highway, Tebrau Expressway, Senai-Desaru Expressway and North South Highway
- Close proximity to proposed RTS station at Bukit Chagar
- Walking distance to 116-acre R&F Princess Cove, Tanjung Puteri, a landmark integrated development from China
- Nearby schools include Foon Yew High School, St Joseph Primary School, Ayer Molek National School, Olympia College and Dato Jaafar Secondary School
Facilities (9th Floor)
- Children’s Playground
- Swimming Pool
- Gymnasium
- Sauna
- Multipurpose Hall
Facilities (32nd Floor)
- Sky Garden
Project Details
Johorean developments differ somewhat from KL ones because of the inclusion of surprise elements, such as the one seen right at the entrance to this showroom unit – a digital lock door.
Interesting.
“You don’t need to use a key,” said the very affable sales personnel, indicating the use of card access. “Ëverything is automated, you have an alarm system fitted in, help is just a keypunch away and it comes with every unit.”
Good to know!
Sky Habitat. This side faces Singapore
Sky Habitat. This side faces Johor Bahru
Car Parking is from Level 1 to 8. Facilitiees are on the Sky Roof at roof top and at Level 9 while residentials will begin at Level 10. Sky Habitat is on half an acre of land or specifically, 0.56 acres
Site progress
The showroom was built to the specifications of the Type A1 833sq ft 2Bedroom-2Bathroom layout, a smallish unit but didn’t seem so upon walking in. The dining area, though modestly decorated, looked spacious.
Ah….this is the scene that greets you as you step into your home
Built-in security system literally at your doorstep
The kitchen was to the side and Mr Salesperson remarked that everything displayed there, except for the fridge, was for free.
Oh, why not the fridge too?
“Because,” he replied, it was just not.
Okay.
Everything you see will be given along with the unit, except the fridge, the pots and pans, fruits and the blinds on the window
But the kitchen cabinet top and bottom, hood, hob, sink will all come with the unit, including the washer and dryer in the yard. The tiles will also be given.
Of course, the kitchen cabinet will not be in two colours, he said. This was just for display but the actual set would be in white.
This is the Master Bedroom. Do you notice how roomy it is? And this is only an 833sq ft unit. Amazing! Another noticable element in Johor interior design for Master Bedrooms is the inclusion of a Day Divan, such as the one in the picture
Here is the other side of the Master Bedroom with a view of the Master bath. The wardrobe will not be given free
The freebies also include two aircons (brand to be determined) for both rooms only, not the hall and others. The bathrooms will be fully fitted as seen with ceiling height homogeneous tiles but will not include the mirrors as seen in the display.
“Some customers have different preferences for mirror type and their placement, that’s why we don’t include the mirrors,” he said.
The middle or second room. The bunk bed is a great idea. Only works with high ceilings and it is good that Sky Habitat provides it
Another view of the same 2nd room
The balcony looked a little small but the size will differ from the unit you choose.
All the units come with balconies as well as yards.
The rather small balcony
And the rather generous yard
Generally speaking, the interior design and high ceilings of 3.3m coupled with clever architectural concept succeeds in denoting spaciousness all around. Of course wide, glass panelled windows in every bedroom also help to let in a piece of sky into one’s living space.
Facilities
Johor properties generally don’t seem to place a lot of emphasis on facilities but that is probably due to the fact that they are so close to town, to transport, to the seaside, coast and shopping, as well as dining, entertainment and leisure activities that developers don’t see the need to overdo recreational and greenery factors on their projects.
Particularly for Sky Habitat, the Serviced Apartment already has the world converged around it and by the time it is ready, so will Princess Cove be. It is literally just across the road and will provide every lifestyle leisure activity one can think of.
Still, there are sufficient facilities provided in-house such as the gymnasium, pool, sauna, BBQ area, children’s playground and sky garden.
An Artist Impression of the Sky Terrace on the rooftop of the 32nd floor
An Artist Impression of the Sky Garden
An Artist Impression of the Children’s Playground
An Artist Impression of the Picnic Area on the rooftop
An Artist Impression of the infinity pool
And finally, an Artist Impression of the reading room for quiet moments
Location
Meldrum Walk − just 5 minutes from City Square Shopping Centre − has tantalized so many-a JB tastebuds for so many decades now, it has garnered quite a reputation for being a premier food paradise and night hawker market. Ask anyone who’s a street food connoisseur and he or she would readily spill the beans on the explosion of fiery, pungent, spicy, sizzling and fragrant Malay, Indian, Chinese and Arab food found here at any one time of the day or night.
Here’s some of what you can taste at famous Meldrum Walk. Pic courtesy of Phoebe Lau/bpdgtravels.blogspot.sg
Apparently it all started with the food stalls on Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Over time, the endless banquet grew into such proportions they spilled over into the backlanes and front lanes of bustling Jalan Meldrum, Jalan Trus and Jalan Segget. It seems that there’s a very famous herbal roast duck restaurant on Jalan Segget called Ya Wang Herbal Roast Duck. Word has it that it’s “the best in JB, Singapore and some say Batam.” (Wink).
Google Map showing the proximity of Sky Habitat and Sky Suites and the leisurely stroll one can take to have some great hawker food at Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Ignore the little guy shown on the map walking round in circles. Your stroll will not take 23 minutes!
But seriously, the character and gastronomy along Meldrum Walk is what flavours this full-fledged town centre area, its legend wafting up onto Jalan Tenteram/Jalan Bukit Medrum or Meldrum Hills as a whole less than 2km away where Sky Habitat resides.
To be fair, Meldrum Hills did not gain its fame just because it shares a curry-flavoured spotlight, some of its renown has been acquired on its own. The area is quiet despite being so close to the town centre, it has good “walkability” because well-paved sidewalks along wide coastline roads invite strolling, and due to Johor Bahru’s well-managed traffic system (unlike ours), the same can be said for the area’s “drivability” too.
However, over and above its culinary renown and seaside serenity, Meldrum Hills sits on the winning podium because of its strategic location. It is strategic because:
- It is 2km away from the Customs and Immigration Quarantine Complex (CIQ) – the entry and exit clearance point for Malaysians and Singaporeans to crossover both countries
- It is 2km away to JB Sentral
- It is 300m away from bus stops and taxi stops
- It is linked to major highways such as the EDL, Coastal Highway, Tebrau Expressway, Senai-Desaru Expressway and North South Highway and Skudai PLUS toll
- It is 400m away from the much-awaited mega commercial and residential R&F Princess Cove waterfront development at Iskandar Tanjung Puteri
- And, of course, it is in the heart of the financial centre of Iskandar Malaysia Flagship Zone A.
Which explains why Meldrum Hills is the chosen spot for quite a number of newly-completed, about-to-begin and on-going developments. Sky Habitat’s developer, MB Group, has another project there scarcely 200m away called Sky Suites, a 31-storey Serviced Apartment not unlike Sky Habitat in concept and built. Sky Suites has recently been completed and handed over.
The value of property in Johor Bahru has grown by leaps and bounds mostly due to the masterplan behind Iskandar Malaysia. One must first understand a little bit about this mega investment and development hub before going further. Here is a brief outline:
About Iskandar Malaysia
Iskandar is the new southern development corridor in Johor that has been identified as one of the catalyst developments to spur the growth of the Malaysian economy. Iskandar covers 221,634 hectares (2,217 sq km) of land area within the southern-most part of Johor and is divided in to five Flagship Zones.
Flagship A: JB Centre
Is the new central business district, the pulse of commercial and financial activities in Iskandar Malaysia. Set in the city of Johor Bahru, it is minutes away from Singapore across the Johor Causeway. The latest addition to the area’s skyline is the Sultan Iskandar Customs and Immigration Quarantine Complex (CIQ) which uses the Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) to fast track immigration clearance for non-Malaysians.
Pic from iskandarmalaysia.com. This is Flagship A — Johor Bahru City Centre, the financial, investment and business hub
However, Iskandar Malaysia’s plan also involves preserving cultural heritage. Which is why JB city centre showcases a unique melange of heritage and culture with historical sites and leisure attractions being the magnet for tourists to enter Malaysia from the South.
Flagship B: Iskandar Puteri
Is a regional city and integrated development featuring world class infrastructures and lifestyle facilities. Central to Iskandar Puteri’s potential is its strategic location in Asia, being at the crossroads of arterial land, sea and air transport.
Pic from ibpnusaya.co.my
Iskandar Puteri has 24,000 acres of contiguous ready land, making it one of the largest property developments in Southeast Asia.
Pic from legoland.com. Everybody knows this. It’s in the Iskandar Puteri region
Iskandar Puteri comprises eight signature developments:
- Kota Iskandar – the Johor state new administrative centre
- The Southern Industrial and Logistics Clusters or SILC – a world class managed “clean and green” industrial park
- Puteri Harbour – the waterfront precinct with integrated waterfront and marina development
- Educity – the regional education hub with Newcastle University, AFIAT Healthpark offering holistic healthcare services
- The International Destination Resort – anchored by international brand theme parks and themed attractions
- Medini − well-defined development clusters comprising lifestyle, leisure and culture
- Iskandar Financial District
- Nusajaya Residences – offering the best in urban living
Flagship C: Ramsar Site
Is one of the most important maritime hubs in Malaysia. The Ramsar site covers 23,000 acres and is the largest uninhabited mangrove islands in the world.
The Western Gate of Development houses the port of Tanjung Pelepas, the world’s 17th busiest port. It is one of the fastest growing ports in the word and is only 45 minutes away from the confluence of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Pic from iskandarmalaysia.com.my
Its facilities include a container port and a Free Trade Zone.
Adjacent to the port and terminal is the Pelepas Free Trade Zone of PFZ with dedicated parks for manufacturing and logistics activities.
Flagship D: Pasir Gudang
This Eastern Gate Development in the industrial and manufacturing hub in the southeastern region encompasses the Pasir Gudang area. The flagship zone covers Pasir Gudang Port, The Pasir Gudang Industrial Estate, Tanjung Langsat Port and the 3,000-acre Tanjung Langsat Industrial Complex.
Current Key Economic Activities in Pasir Gudang include heavy industries and logistics as well as warehousing and palm oil and refining industries.
Pic from simedarbyutilities and snipeview.com. Left: Pasir Gudang. Right Tanjung Langsat
Tanjung Langsat Port specialises in handling and storing liquid bulk cargo such as gasoline, biodiesels and other edible and non-edible liquids. Other facilities include offshore oil and gas fabrication industries.
Flagship E: Senai-Skudai
Is in the northern region of Iskandar Malaysia. It is 25km from Johor Bahru and covers two towns: Senai and Skudai.
Senai incorporates the Senai International Airport and is the base for several multinational electronics manufacturing.
Pic from johortravel.com. The Senai International Airport
Skudai is a rapidly expanding suburb with quality power supply and clean water supply.
Key landmarks in the Senai-Skudai areas include University Technology Malaysia (UTM) and the Johor Technology Park.
Expressway E3 links Senai to Tuas Expressway in Singapore.
Analysis
MB Group’s projects in JB
The developer of Sky Habitat is SKS Group which stands at the forefront of the construction and development industry. Founded in 1983, it has 30 years of experience in the development of a wide range of property types.
The company is actually a multi-disciplined corporation. Its core businesses include property development, construction, paint and coatings, building materials trading, landscape design, interior design, resort & hotels, investment holding, credit financing and credit financing.
MB group is notable in Malaysia for being a successful “White Knight Developer”, having taken over numerous abandoned projects and revived them. They also run a CSR programme and has endorsed “Pertubuhan Pelatih Maha Builders, Johor Bahru Johor (MB Boys Home)” for the education, support and grooming of young boys so that they become holistically developed citizens for the future of our society.
Coming back to their development track record, altogether they have built 3 Amansari hotels and no less than 10 commercial and residential projects in various stages of development or completed right now.
Sky Habitat@ Meldrum Hills which shares almost the same road as the newly completed development, Sky Suites@Bukit Meldrum by the same developer are the two most similar projects of their kind within the immediate locale. Hence, the price comparison analysis will be done with each other.
Similar to its younger sister, Sky Suites is a one-block, 31-storey Serviced Apartment in the MB Luxury Series range. It is built on less than 1 acre of land.
| Name | Tenure | Unit Size | Average Price PSF | Maintenance Fee PSF | Approx Start Price per Unit |
| Sky Habitat | F hold | 833 −1,260sq ft | RM659 –RM700 | RM 0.30 | From RM568,XXXK |
| Sky Suites | F hold | 581−1,346sq ftNot inclusive of built up of penthouses | RM700 – RM1,200 | RM 0.25 | From RM380,XXXK(launched 2012) |
*Rental Rates: As Sky Suites is a just-handed-over project, the asking rental for a fully-furnished 581sq ft unit is RM1,900 per month. Bigger units of 1,350 sq ft are going for as high as RM3,300 per month
Summary
Sky Habitat is situated on a very, very, very prime piece of location. Bukit Meldrum, and all the roads running through it like Jalan Tenteram, Jalan Bukit Meldrum, and roads off Tanjung Puteri, is a prized spot, just waiting to ripen.
Already it is in the nucleus of citycentre amenities with a short drive required to reach CIQ, City Square, Komtar, JBCC, OCBC, HSBC, RHB, Public Bank, CIMB, Maybank, Post Office, the High Court, The Istana, the Inner Ring Road, the General Hospital and the EDL. What more, when R&F Princess Cove just across the road 400m away is ready?
No wonder everyone is building here, jostling for space within a 300m radius of one another, just getting ready for the moment.
The price of Sky Habitat is attractive, particularly to foreigners who can own a unit or two at a fraction of the listed price owing to the exchange rate. And think − you can never lose out on rental and you may never get another chance to come this way again. The ball is clearly in your court now.
