THE Atmosphere 360, the well-known revolving restaurant atop Kuala Lumpur Tower, has ceased operations.

This decision follows the issuance of a vacate order by the High Court to its owner, Asian Kitchen (M) Sdn Bhd, instructing them to leave the premises by January 4, 2024.

The order was pursued by Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd and its current owner, Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd, against Asian Kitchen. The closure was confirmed by Asian Kitchen’s CEO, Ringo Kaw.

“The High Court’s bailiffs had gone to the restaurant yesterday morning and ordered us to shut down.

“We are now in a predicament as we have secured reservations up to next year, considering the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“So we have no choice but to offer our customers a refund. I feel helpless.

“We hope the authorities can treat us fairly,” he was quoted as saying.

Kaw said before Hydroshoppe took over KL Tower, the previous management had verbally promised them a three-year extension of its tenancy agreement.

The new management allowed them to stay until the end of the year.

He said they had taken the matter to court because the takeover by Hydroshoppe is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

In April, Hydroshoppe director Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh was charged with allegedly providing an annual bribe of RM500,000 over 15 years to former communications and multimedia minister Annuar Musa, purportedly to speed up the acquisition of the KL Tower concession. – December 22, 2023