Samsung C&T completes Malaysia's tallest, world's 2nd tower Merdeka 118

Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, constructed by Samsung C&T [SAMSUNG C&T]

Samsung C&T completed the construction of the world's second-tallest building, Merdeka 118, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Merdeka 118 is just behind the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, also built by Samsung C&T in 2009.

Malaysian King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah of central Pahang attended the tower's opening ceremony on Wednesday along with Raja Arshad, chairman of the Malaysian state investment fund, and Samsung C&T CEO Oh Se-chul.

The 679-meter (2,228-feet) tall building features 118 above-ground floors and five underground levels. The complex has a total floor area of 673,862 square meters (7.25 million square feet), incorporating office spaces, a luxury hotel and a shopping mall. The tower's top floor hosts an observation deck providing panoramic views of the city.

The company highlighted the project's advanced construction technologies, including the installation of a 160-meter pinnacle through a "lift-up" technique with hydraulic jacks and a high-pressure concrete pumping technology to elevate high-strength concrete to towering heights.

The construction of Merdeka 118 adds to Samsung C&T's portfolio in the Malaysian market, including the completion of projects such as one of the Petronas Twin Towers in 1998, which were the tallest buildings in Malaysia at 452 meters. Other projects include luxury residential complexes like Star Residences and the headquarters building of the Sapura Group.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]