Warisan Merdeka project may start in under three months, says PNB

PETALING JAYA, July 9 — Work on the controversial Warisan Merdeka project could begin in less than three months even as fears remain over its impact on the Kuala Lumpur heritage zone, local dailies have reported.

Amid renewed opposition to the project, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) has said that it is in the final stages of getting the authorities’ approval for the development that includes a 118-storey tower in the historical Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara area.

Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, PNB president and group chief executive officer, yesterday expressed hope of moving ahead with the project, which had sparked off a debate when it was announced by the prime minister in October 2010.

“We have to wait for green light from DBKL before starting (this project).

“But we think this project can be started in two, three months,” Hamad was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

The Business Times reported that the developer needed to fulfil a few conditions in Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) Development Order (DO) before the latter can give the go-ahead for the project, said to cost RM5 billion.

It cited Hamad as saying some of the conditions include the access roads and routes in the project area.

Another local paper reported Hamad as saying that PNB is working to ensure that the Warisan Merdeka project meets the conditions in DBKL’s DO.

“The studies about the orders that are in the DO are almost ready to be submitted to DBKL for approval,” Hamad was reported as saying by Berita Harian.

Last Monday, Pertahankan Taman Merdeka Negara (PTMN) protested as it noted that the developer’s planning application for Warisan Merdeka would convert the status of the project site — where Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara and Tunku Park sit on — into land for commercial use.

A day after PTMN’s protest, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said Warisan Merdeka would bring new life into the “dead” heritage area in the city centre. He also gave his assurance that the heritage value of the area will be kept intact.

“As far as we are concerned, development is development but the heritage, aesthetic value of surrounding place will definitely be kept for sure, don’t have to worry,” Tengku Adnan had said.

DBKL had last month given neighbouring landowners a two-week notice to send in their written objections on the Warisan Merdeka project, with the objection period ending on July 2.

DBKL officers had told The Malay Mail Online that written objections would result in a hearing involving the developer and objecting landowners, with the development application then going back to a One-Stop Centre meeting for DBKL and the city mayor’s decision.

Government-linked firm PNB had said the project would not be built using taxpayers’ money. It had formed a wholly-owned unit, PNB Merdeka Ventures, to carry out the project.

The project — which will include a 118-storey tower, a four-star hotel and two blocks of 40-storey condominiums — will see Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara being kept as heritage sites. It will also be the tallest structure in the country once completed, eclipsing the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.