Contradictheory: Merdeka 118, a raised hand reaching onwards


Merdeka 118's shape is meant to represent Tunku Abdul Rahman in Stadium Merdeka on Aug 31, 1957, shouting Merdeka! seven times. — Filepic/The Star

Merdeka 118 is slowly becoming one of my favourite landmarks in Kuala Lumpur. At 678.9m, it’s a towering column that dominates the skyline as the second-tallest building in the world. Its sharp, angular silhouette makes it instantly recognisable, a jagged exclamation mark in the middle of the city.

Not only that, it’s been seen around the world as the backdrop for the opening scene in Marvel’s Thunderbolts, in which Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh) leaps off the building’s glass face head-first into action and adventure, while advertising Malaysia on a global scale.

Save 30% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 9.73/month

Billed as RM 9.73 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 8.63/month

Billed as RM 103.60 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Living

The cost of delivery: Fast shipping has become more polluting around the world
‘Furry trailblazers’: Genome study reveals milestone in history of cat domestication
Foods with healthy-sounding buzzwords could be hiding added sugar in plain sight
What to do if your car was caught in a flood
How smart hounds learn: Some dogs can learn new words just by eavesdropping
How these in-debt shopping addicts are trying to manage their overspending
Sunny Side Up: Don’t shut down children’s excitement
A father's plea: Help me find a job for my autistic son, and thousands like him
Bird flu and pets: What you need to know
Malaysian master sake sommelier creates new glass for better sake appreciation

Others Also Read