KUALA LUMPUR, November 30 – First of all, I am grateful to Allah SWT because with His bounty and grace we can be present this morning in conjunction with the Puncak Menara Merdeka 118 Completion Ceremony. I would like to thank the Most Blessed Tun Arifin Zakaria and Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) for the lively response at this event. I am very honored to have the opportunity to attend such an important event in the history of the country.
With the completion of the top of the tower today, it places Merdeka 118, the second tallest in the world after the Burj Khalifa and the tallest tower in Malaysia as well as Southeast Asia. Inspiration to name this building as Merdeka 118 because it was built in a historic area between Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara, while 118 refers to the number of floors of the building which is 118 floors. The design of this majestic tower actually reflects the image of the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj when he raised his hand to shout ‘Merdeka’, 64 years ago.
I am proud that the top of this tower was able to be completed even when the country was facing a COVID-19 pandemic. This is not only a great achievement in the field of engineering, but also strengthens Malaysia’s position as a modern and developed country. I also understand that Merdeka 118 will be the first tower in Malaysia to achieve three green platinum ratings in the international sustainability certification as well as the prestigious WELL certification.
This makes Merdeka 118 an industry benchmark in Malaysia as an iconic tower for the future. Congratulations and well done to PNB! The construction of Merdeka 118, will benefit the Malaysian Family because this precinct will be a new economic catalyst for Kuala Lumpur, thus complementing other areas that are rapidly developing such as KLCC and KL Sentral. The development of Merdeka 118 can also provide opportunities to the local community, especially in nearby areas such as Petaling Street, Kampung Attap and Pudu to generate an economy.
In fact, Merdeka 118 is also seen to bring the spirit of the Malaysian Family because apart from giving the local community the opportunity to develop business, they can also hold programs or activities to increase the attractiveness of the area around Merdeka 118 through the Merdeka 118 Community Grant Program. The Merdeka 118 Grant Application has been opened on 28 June until 20 August 2021, where Malaysian Families can apply for three types of grants, namely Sports, Arts and Business Community.
This measure can directly encourage the involvement of Malaysian Families in sharing ideas to reactivate the community, building more opportunities for socio-economic growth. The construction of Merdeka 118 is also a reflection of the unification of Malaysia’s heritage and history with future evolution as well as being able to revive the historic area in Kuala Lumpur. This can be seen through the efforts taken by PNB to preserve the treasures of our country, namely the Merdeka Stadium and the National Stadium through the conservation work that has been actively carried out.
This effort is in line with the government’s vision to develop the Kuala Lumpur Creative and Cultural District (KLCCD) through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) in collaboration with Think City and the National Heritage Department. The KLCCD Strategic Master Plan aims to create an ecosystem centered on creativity and culture that can stimulate the economy and improve the living standards of the people in Malaysia.
Merdeka 118 is now poised to be part of Kuala Lumpur’s renewal with history, recreation, sports and entertainment to be reactivated in the Malaysian capital. I am excited to look forward to the positive impact and value that this new landmark will bring to this historic area of Kuala Lumpur. It is indeed a significant achievement for Malaysia and reflects the success and progress that we will achieve as a nation as well as a symbol as a symbol of a united Malaysian people.
Before concluding, I would like to once again congratulate PNB on its success in building another iconic landmark for Kuala Lumpur and the country. Finally, with the words Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I officiate the completion of the top of the Merdeka 118 tower.
