There are quite a number of skyscrapers being developed in the Kuala Lumpur city centre, which without a doubt are a great addition to Kuala Lumpur’s skyline.
But none of them stand out as much as these two extraordinary developments in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
It is undeniable how we consider the Petronas Twin Tower to be the landmark of Kuala Lumpur, and now the upcoming Merdeka PNB118. These developments not only carry the image of the country, but also the image of the two icons who wish to leave their mark on our country.
Image: Sourced from sabahkini.com
Petronas Twin Tower
When Tun Dr Mahathir was the prime minister of Malaysia, he built the world’s tallest building in Malaysia in the year 1998. To-date this development is considered to be the landmark of Malaysia, and the lands surrounding this project were developed with many other iconic projects shaping the KL skyline, making Kuala Lumpur the most desirable place to live in Malaysia.
Standing tall at a height of 452 metres, this development consists of two 88-storey towers which come with a shopping mall, a 20-ha park, F&B outlets, and a convention centre.
This tower held the ‘tallest building in the world’ record from 1998 to 2004, and is to-date still the tallest building in Malaysia – and will remain so until the completion of Merdeka PNB118.
Image: Sourced from kuala-lumpur.ws
But why is another taller building being developed within 4 kilometres of the iconic Petronas Twin Tower? It has been speculated by many that this is another manifestation of the political rivalry between the country’s leader and Tun Dr. Mahathir.
“I would like to retain the Twin Towers as the highest buildings in Malaysia. At the moment, we don’t need any tower higher than that. We should build the 100-storey tower, but maybe a little bit later when I am not around,” Dr Mahathir, who retired in October 2003 after 22 years in power, said in 2010.
– Quote taken from The Straits Times
Merdeka PNB118, formally known as Warisan Merdeka / KL118
The Merdeka PNB118 is an upcoming development in Kuala Lumpur, that is to be the next tallest building in Malaysia once it is completed in the year 2020. Developed by Permodelan Nasional Berhad (PNB), this development was launched by our current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to mark his achievement in Malaysia.
Comprising a single 118-storey tower, this RM5 billion project will stand tall at the height of 630 metres. Another interesting fact is that this development is located next to the historic Merdeka Stadium, where Malaysia’s independence was announced on 31st Aug 1957. Hence, the name ‘Merdeka’ was given to this development.
Image & featured image: Sourced from skyscrapercity.com
When asked if this development was due to his rivalry with Tun Dr Mahathir, Datuk Seri Najib said it was not. But whether it is due to a rivalry or not, Malaysians can soon expect a grand new landmark in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
Mangalesri Chandrasekaran, Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email mangales@propertyguru.com.my