Merdeka 118 a reflection of how far the nation has progressed

KUALA LUMPUR: The restoration of Stadium Merdeka, where the country’s freedom was declared in 1957, and the adjoining grandiose development of Merdeka 118 Tower truly reflects how far the country has progressed as a nation.

The iconic building is set to open its doors at the end of this year with Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), the owner of Merdeka 118, moving in to take up 17 floors of the tower, said project developer PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd’s chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Ab Aziz Tengku Mahmud.

PNB owns Merdeka 118 via its wholly-owned subsidiary, PNB Merdeka Ventures.

Work to restore Stadium Merdeka began in 2007 and was completed in 2008, while the development of the country’s latest iconic building started in 2016, but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed its completion for a year.

“We are now in the final phase of getting approval from relevant authorities, including the Fire and Rescue Department.

“After PNB moves in from its current location in Menara PNB, Jalan Tun Razak, our anchor tenant, Maybank, is expected to move next year, making it 70% occupied,” he said.

Tengku Ab Aziz also said Stadium Merdeka is expected to be reopened to the public by the first quarter of next year after being closed since 2016, while the indoor Stadium Negara is slated for renovation.

Speaking to media during a recent media tour of the skyscraper, he said another main tenant would be the five-star Park Hyatt hotel, occupying the top 17 storeys with 252 guest rooms.

Its sprawling seven-storey “118 Mall” is expected to be completed in 2024.

Once fully completed in 2027, Merdeka 118 will feature the state-of-the-art tower standing at 678.9m that will transform the area, once known for its sporting arenas, into the capital’s new landmark of premium office buildings, hotels, mall, residences, heritage site, museum and mosque.

The latest skyscraper in the city is the second-tallest building in the world, after Dubai’s Burj Khalifa at 828m.

Designed by Melbourne-based Fender Katsalidis, the structure includes the tower’s 40-storey spire (160.4m).

According to Tengku Ab Aziz, other major developments in the area include a 65-storey Merdeka Residences East Tower and the 63-storey Merdeka Residences West Tower, as well as the Oakwood Premier Kuala Lumpur serviced residences.

The RM5bil Merdeka 118 development has 3.1 million sq ft of floor space and the highest observation deck in South-East Asia, standing 500m above the ground.

It will also feature an “Edge Walk” for thrill seekers, who will do a safety harness and walk on a glass floor.

Tengku Ab Aziz added that the development has a gross development value of RM7bil.

Merdeka 118 consists of 18,000 glass panels that make up the tower’s crystalline facade, and the installation of the final panel marks 95% completion of the tower. — BK