’118-storey tower in KL not viable’

A public consultation session has come to the conclusion that the Warisan Merdeka office tower is not viable because of the glut of office space.

KUALA LUMPUR: A former university lecturer in economics and politics has contended that the proposed 118-storey Warisan Merdeka office tower would not be viable because there was a glut of office space in the  city.

Citing various property analysis reports, Ong Kian Ming said vacant office space in KL rose from 6.5% to 25% in the forth quarter of 2012 due to completion of many new office towers.

He said the Warisan Merdeka tower, which would be built on the former Taman Merdeka park, would provide 3 million sq ft of office space upon completion while the upcoming Tunku Razak Exchange tower would provide another 7 million sq ft.

“How sustainable is the Warisan going to be? Is it going to be white elephant? Or it could have been much better used if we maintain it as a park,” he said.

Ong was speaking at a public consultation session on Warisan Merdeka organised by NGO Pertahankan Taman Merdeka Negara (PTMN).

The session followed protests against the RM5 billion tower which would be built at the expense of Taman Merdeka, a former recreational spot known among KL folks as the Tunku Park.

Situated adjacent to the l Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara, the park was opened in 1958 and closed in 1990s.

Ong claimed today that the UEM group had in 1990s intended to develop the park alongside with the stadiums but it was halted following the economic crisis.

He also pointed out that there was only a total of 340-acres green space in KL, whereas other cities such as New York, Vancouver and Mexico City have more than 1000 acres of park land in their city center.

Meanwhile, PTNB member Tang Ah Chai said his group has invited the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing and the project undertaker Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (PNB) to attend the public consultation but none of them showed up.

He said the federal territories ministry claimed that the project is not under their purview, whereas DBKL said it had gotten an approval.

“On the other hand, PNB said they are not ready for a public consultation and would prefer a closed-door meeting with us,” he said.

Tang said the group stance is for the authorities to cancel the project and declare the entire areas surrounding the two stadiums as national heritage.

“We reject the 118-storey tower, and we want the park to be returned to the people,” he said.

Former Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor Mak Khun Meng said the selling of the park has raised legal questions because the park was never de-gazetted as a reserve land.

He said the British government first alienated the parcel of land as reserved land for recreational activities in 1932.

He said after the country achieved independence, it was transferred to the federal government but remained a reserve land.

“In order to reverse the gazette, the government has to de-gazette the parcel of land and seek public feedback on any proposed development. To my best knowledge, it hasn’t been done,” he said.

PTMN said they would study the case and would consider taking legal actions against the government over the transaction.