Bucida Molineti from the perspective of housing community – Pros and Cons

In recent development, Malaysia is seen to have fast grown of new housing schemes throughout the nation and as a result, a new community is established. These schemes are developed in phases responding to citizens’ core need to own houses.

The role of the housing developer especially on the selling price, selection of location, house design, quality of construction, landscape settings, utility settings, and others encapsulate their unique selling propositions.

About the landscape, particularly on softscapes such as trees grown by the housing developer, Bucida Molineti or in Malay pokok doa (Figure 1) is their ultimate choice. This type of tree is originated from tropical forests.

Despite its beauty, this tree has its pros and cons in which many Malaysians are unaware of:

Pros (in general):

Price is affordable and easy to source.
Suitable for tropical climates and easy to grow with minimal to moderate watering.
Minimal maintenance and able to grow at moderate to faster rate.
The unique architectural form is eye-pleasing and provides natural shelter when it reaches certain height.

Cons (from the perspective of the housing community):

After a certain age, the tree shed their leaves moderately to excessively, which requires constant clearing and throughout time, the unwanted leaves accumulated causing clogged drain.
If it is grown near a structure, the roots will damage the adjacent structure (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Damage on side of the drain and lower part of the wall

When it reaches a certain height, it will affect utility cables such as electricity and communication (Figure 3).

Figure 3: Affected utility cables (Source: own)

If the housing developer is planting the tree near the sewerage line between private and public, a possibility of clogging and damage from the tree roots might happened. (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Bucida Molineti’s planted on top of the sewerage line has clogged and damaged the line (from private to public line)

With the downside aspects that is considered as latent defects/impacts, the community health and safety are at stake. Concerted efforts by the housing developer and local authorities are needed to ensure the livelihood of new housing developments in response to sustainable housing development.