KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's tallest tower, Merdeka 118, has been lit up in blue starting Friday until Monday (Nov 24) from 7 pm until 2 am, to mark World Children's Day 2025, symbolising Janji Kita (Our Promise) to every child.
A joint statement by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (PNBMV) stated that the iconic tower will be joined by the country's first Child Friendly City, Taman Jaya Park in Petaling Jaya, which will also turn blue during a community celebration tomorrow (Nov 22).
The coordinated illumination demonstrates Malaysia’s whole-of-society commitment to child rights from national leadership to community action.
The UNICEF Representative to Malaysia and Special Representative to Brunei Darussalam, Robert Gass, said the initiative is a moment for Malaysians to renew their shared promise to every child in the country.
"The lighting of Malaysia’s tallest tower is a symbol of hope and commitment to protect, uplift and celebrate our children.
"UNICEF is honoured to light up Merdeka 118 in partnership with PNB Merdeka Ventures, a collaboration that helps raise awareness of the importance of securing every child’s future,” he said in the statement.
PNBMV chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Ab. Aziz Tengku Mahmud said the tower, built as a symbol of the country's pride and potential, now also stands for hope and inspiration.
"Lighting the tower blue for World Children’s Day reflects PNBMV’s support for UNICEF’s mission to build a Malaysia where every child is valued and protected,” he said.
According to the statement, a full-day family festival, 'Go Blue in the Park', was also co-hosted by UNICEF and the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) at Taman Jaya during the weekend.
The park will transition to blue during sunset at around 6.45 pm, symbolically connecting Petaling Jaya’s communities to the national promise to reaffirm Malaysia’s commitment to every child.
One of the highlights was UNICEF’s 'My Day, My Rights' Phone Booth, where children can record video messages about their hopes and ideas for a better future, capturing their real and unfiltered reflections.
The statement also highlighted the central role of children and young people in national and regional conversations throughout Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship in 2025.
"These moments reflect this year’s World Children’s Day theme 'My Day, My Rights', which underscores that child rights must be lived every day, not celebrated only once a year,” the UNICEF statement said.
Meanwhile, Gass also added that: "Throughout Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship in 2025, children and young people have played a central role in shaping national and regional conversations.
"Their concerns and solutions on issues that affect their daily lives took centre stage at the Asean Children & Youth Climate Summit and the Asean ICT Forum on Child Online Protection.
"Young people also brought the conversation about child rights to the Parliament in preparation for Malaysia’s dialogue with the Committee on the Rights of the Child in 2026. -- BERNAMA / UNICEF-PNBMV statement
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