KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 29): The Merdeka 118 tower is almost 70% tenanted, according to PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Ab Aziz Tengku Mahmud.

In a media familiarisation trip to the world's second-tallest building (678.9 metres) on Tuesday, Aziz said that Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) — which will occupy 17 floors of the tower — will move in by year end.

"Maybank and other tenants will move in the next 12 months [after that]. [Anchor tenant] Maybank will take up 33 floors," he explained.

The Merdeka 118 tower features premium Grade A office spaces from Levels 8 to 96, as well as Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur from Levels 97 to 112. The observation deck — The View at 118 — will be at Levels 115 and 166, the conference centre at Level 117, and multipurpose event space at Level 118.

The tower is part of the Merdeka 118 development, which also includes Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara, 118 Mall, two residential towers, one serviced residence, Little M (a PNB childcare centre), Masjid Merdeka, Merdeka Boulevard at 118 (a four-acre public linear park) and Merdeka Textile Museum. There will be more than 8,000 parking bays.

The Merdeka 118 tower, which features the highest observation deck in Southeast Asia, has a net lettable area of about 1.7 million sq ft. It is currently 97.8% completed.

Aziz added that PNB Merdeka Ventures will start building the two residential towers — the 65-storey Merdeka Residences East Tower and 63-storey Merdeka Residences West Tower — as well as the serviced residence tower — Oakwood Premier — by next year. They are scheduled for completion in 2027.