THE final roof slab was placed on the Merdeka 118 development in Kuala Lumpur today, marking the building’s achievement as the tallest in Malaysia, said Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) president and group chief executive Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn.

The topping-out or completion at Level 118, the tower’s peak, was announced by PNB today.

“This is a major milestone in the construction of the tower as it significantly adds to the already distinctive Kuala Lumpur skyline.

“Our thanks to everyone involved in this project, especially those who have worked tirelessly towards this important achievement,” Zulqarnain said in a statement, adding that the tower is currently 81% complete, with the installation of the glass façade in progress at Level 108.

“Despite experiencing a delay due to restrictions from the movement control order (MCO) implemented last year, we are pleased that we are able to top out within our revised timeline.”

Meanwhile, PNB wholly owned subsidiary, PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Berhad (PMVSB) said that upon completion in 2022, the tower will reach its full height of 644m and is set to be the tallest building in Southeast Asia.

Construction is estimated to cost RM5 billion.

The tower covers more than 3 million sqft of floor area, comprising 1.66 million sqft of net lettable area of office space and approximately 1 million sqft of retail space.

On Level 118, there will be an observation deck that is set to be the highest viewing deck in Southeast Asia, as well as the first Park Hyatt Hotel in Malaysia, occupying the top 17 floors of the tower.

The tower will be surrounded by four acres of greenery and open spaces, as well as three premium residential towers.

Other features in the new development will be a textile museum with a focus on Malay-world textile, a purpose-built childcare centre and a new mosque called Masjid Merdeka, with a capacity of up to 3,000 people.

The Merdeka 118 development sits within the historical enclave of downtown Kuala Lumpur and the tower overlooks two national historical landmarks: Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara.

PNB, as custodian of the two stadiums, said it was taking meticulous care to maintain and preserve them as part of the nation’s heritage. – June 8, 2021.