From Bloomberg, September 5:
Building tall landmarks had long been a source of prestige and national pride for Malaysia’s leaders, but the recent addition of another has the current prime minister suggesting there’s already enough.
A quarter-century after the Petronas Twin Towers became the world’s tallest buildings and reshaped Kuala Lumpur’s skyline, Malaysia’s capital is continuing to add new skyscrapers despite growing doubts over the level of demand for property.
Kuala Lumpur already has more supertall buildings than all but seven cities, and recently it’s added another — the 678.9-meter (2,227-feet) Merdeka 118, which will fully open to the public later this year. A long spire helped it edge out the Shanghai Tower to become the second-tallest building in the world after Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.
With a population of about 2 million in a city where many offices and homes sit empty, there are growing questions about the proliferation of skyscrapers in the Malaysian capital. But such construction is likely to continue, driven by a preference by many investors to chase returns in real estate, and developers and political leaders seeking to project national strength through building tall.
“If the money rules, this is what happens,” said Mustapha Kamal Zulkarnain, an architect who focuses on resilient cities. “We’re building as if nobody’s checking on the demand.”
Malaysia’s leader has taken notice. In a speech last month, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged more focus on affordable housing, as well as shops and small restaurants.
“There are already many skyscrapers,” he said. “If the private sector wants to build them, please do. But the government does not make this a priority anymore.”....
....MUCH MORE
However, in Dubai (New Atlas, September 9):
Enormous skyscraper confirmed as world's next second-tallest building
725 m (2,378 ft).
The up and down the Peninsula reference was to Singapore's role in "Asia–Pacific’s family office boom: Opportunity knocks".
