Merdeka 118 / the View at 118, Kuala Lumpur

Merdeka 118 is the tallest building in Malaysia and Southeast Asia and the second-tallest in the world after Dubai's Burj Khalifa. Its faceted glass tower and needle-like spire reach 678.9 metres, rising beside Stadium Merdeka, where Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaimed the independence of Malaya on 31 August 1957. Developed by the national investment fund Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), the tower was completed in 2023 and houses Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, PNB's offices and Maybank's headquarters. On 28 July 2026 the building was officially renamed Menara Merdeka Maybank, though the surrounding precinct keeps the Merdeka 118 name.

This guide covers the tower's history and design, the heritage stadiums around it, what you can visit now (October 2026), the status of the 118 Mall and The View at 118 observation deck, and how to get there.

History of Merdeka 118

The project was announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on 12 September 2007 under the working name Menara Warisan Merdeka. It sits on the site of the former Merdeka Park, later an open-air car park, in a 7.7-hectare precinct between Jalan Hang Jebat, Petaling Street and the two historic stadiums. The tower has also been known as KL118 and PNB 118 during its development.

The budget of about RM5 billion drew public criticism, with many Malaysians arguing that money from a state-owned fund should go to basic infrastructure instead; the government of the day defended it as a source of economic opportunity. Ground was broken in 2014. Piling and foundations were done by Pintaras Geotechnics, and in November 2015 PNB awarded the main RM3.4 billion construction contract to a joint venture of Samsung C&T (one of the builders of the Petronas Twin Towers) and UEM Group. Part of the office tower was financed in 2017 through a green sukuk, the first under the ASEAN Green Bond Standards.

Work stopped briefly in March 2020 during the Covid-19 Movement Control Order and resumed that May. The concrete core reached the 118th floor in August 2020, overtaking Vietnam's Landmark 81 as Southeast Asia's tallest building, and the tower topped out in November 2021. The spire was completed in December 2022, fixing the final height at 678.9 metres (700.9 metres above sea level). The building was completed in November 2023 and officially inaugurated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah, on 10 January 2024, but most of it stayed closed to the public while fit-out continued.

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur opened on 7 August 2025 on levels 75 to 112, the first part of the tower open to the public. On 28 July 2026 the tower was renamed Menara Merdeka Maybank to reflect Maybank's move of its headquarters into the building; Maybank's former headquarters on Jalan Tun Perak became Menara Tun Perak. The tower hosted its first tower-running race, The Sky Race, on 30 August 2025, with runners climbing 2,845 steps to Level 118, and a second edition in August 2026 drew about 8,000 entrants.

Design of the Tower

Merdeka 118 was designed by the Australian practice Fender Katsalidis with RSP Architects as local partner, and engineered by Leslie E. Robertson Associates and Robert Bird Group, with Arup as the civil and structural engineer of record. The shape of the tower is meant to recall Tunku Abdul Rahman's raised hand as he shouted "Merdeka!" at the 1957 declaration. Its facade is made of faceted, diamond-shaped glass panels, intended to symbolise the diversity of Malaysia's people. The cladding uses 18,144 panels and about 114,000 square metres of glass, and at night 8.4 km of LED strips light the facets.

The tower has 118 floors above ground and five basements. It was designed to achieve platinum ratings from three green-building schemes (GBI, LEED and GreenRE). The 400,000 square metres of space mix offices (around 60 of the 80 office floors are for PNB and its subsidiaries), the hotel, a planned observation deck and the 118 Mall at the base.

Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara

The tower's name comes from its neighbour. Stadium Merdeka was built between September 1956 and August 1957, designed by Stanley Jewkes of the Public Works Department on the instructions of Tunku Abdul Rahman, specifically for the handover of power from Britain. On 31 August 1957 more than 20,000 people watched the independence ceremony there, and the stadium was also where Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963. It later hosted the Merdeka football tournament, SEA Games events and the 1975 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Bugner. PNB, which owns it, restored it, and in 2008 it received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage conservation award. Next door is Stadium Negara, the country's first indoor stadium. Both are part of the precinct, so the old and new symbols of independence stand side by side.

What You Can Visit at Merdeka 118 Now

Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

The only part of the tower open to the public as of October 2026 is the Park Hyatt, which has 232 rooms and suites on levels 75 to 112. You can stay overnight or book a table at the hotel's restaurants and bars, which is currently the only way to see the view from inside the tower.

118 Mall (opening November 2026)

The 118 Mall at the foot of the tower is being built by PNB Merdeka Ventures. Opening was first expected by June 2026, then August 2026, and in August 2026 the developer confirmed November 2026 as the opening date. It is planned with more than 300 outlets, an 80,000 sq ft Malaysian Artisan District for local crafts and food, a 40,000 sq ft food hall, an events piazza called The Atmosphere under an 88-metre glass dome, a Village Grocer supermarket, cinemas and brands such as adidas, BookXcess and CHAGEE.

The View at 118 (not yet open)

The View at 118 is the planned observation deck near the top of the tower (announced for levels 115 and 116, with a second, higher deck planned inside the spire), set to become the highest observation deck in Southeast Asia. As of mid-October 2026 there is no confirmed opening date or ticket price, so do not plan a trip around it yet. Until it opens, the Petronas Twin Towers and KL Tower are the city's public viewpoints.

Seeing the tower from outside

The tower is best appreciated from the ground. Good spots include the steps around Stadium Merdeka, the Jalan Sultan and Petaling Street area of Chinatown, where it towers over the old shophouses, and rooftop bars across the city. From KL Tower and the Petronas Twin Towers' Level 86 you see it on the southern skyline.

How to Get to Merdeka 118

• MRT: Merdeka station on the Kajang Line was built for the precinct and connects directly to the 118 Mall area.
• LRT: Plaza Rakyat station (Ampang and Sri Petaling lines) is linked to the mall across the road; Pasar Seni (Kelana Jaya Line and MRT Kajang Line) is about 10 minutes' walk through Chinatown.
• Monorail: Maharajalela station is a short walk along the Merdeka Boulevard linear park.
• Car or Grab: the two-storey Belfield Tunnel, opened on 2 March 2025, runs about 1 km from Jalan Syed Putra and Jalan Damansara to the precinct's underground car park. Grab drivers know the building as Merdeka 118 or Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur.

Tips for Visiting

• Check the latest news before you go: the mall and observation deck have both slipped several times, and opening dates can change again.
• Combine a look at the tower with Chinatown (Petaling Street, Kwai Chai Hong, Guan Di Temple and Sri Mahamariamman Temple) and the Central Market, all within about 10 minutes on foot.
• For photos of the full height and spire, stand well back, for example on the Chinatown side, and come back after dark when the LED lighting runs along the facets.
• If you plan to eat or drink at the Park Hyatt for the view, book ahead and ask for a window table.
• The area around the stadiums has little shade, so bring water and a hat in the middle of the day.

Location

Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Merdeka 118, Wikipedia
• Maybank renames Merdeka 118 HQ as Menara Merdeka Maybank, Business Today
• 118 Mall hosts inaugural retailers' gathering ahead of November opening, The Star
• 118 Mall slated to open doors in August within Merdeka 118 precinct, EdgeProp
• 118 Mall, Wikipedia
• Stadium Merdeka, Wikipedia