KUALA LUMPUR – Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan has raised red flags over the sudden closure of KL Tower, questioning the government’s claim that the iconic landmark is temporarily shut down for “maintenance”.
In a strongly-worded statement, Wan Saiful alleged that the closure is part of a growing trend of forced takeovers by the government, aimed at removing existing operators to make way for handpicked private entities.
“I don’t buy the maintenance excuse. This looks like another sham an excuse to forcibly remove the current operator, Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd, led by Datuk Abdul Hamid Shaikh,” he said in a post on social media today.
Wan Saiful further claimed that the government is attempting to install Lim Seong Hai Capital Sdn Bhd, headed by Tan Sri Datuk Seri Lim Keng Cheng, as the new operator of KL Tower.
He likened the situation to the controversial eviction of residents from Kampung Sungai Baru a move widely criticised as benefiting developers such as KL City Gateway (KLCG) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Suez Capital, led by Datuk Ter Leong Hing.
“Is Malaysia witnessing a new trend where government power and agencies are used to benefit selected tycoons?” he questioned.
Calling the move “highly inappropriate”, Wan Saiful stressed that KL Tower is a national landmark, and any disputes over its management should be settled in court not through political manoeuvring or abrupt action.
“The government should have waited for the court’s decision. This kind of premature move undermines the rule of law,” he said.
Yesterday, the Communications Ministry announced the temporary closure of KL Tower, citing scheduled maintenance and upgrades under the new management team.
No specific reopening date has been given, but the ministry assured updates will be made through official media channels.
KL Tower remains one of the tallest telecommunications towers in the world and a major tourism and cultural icon for Malaysia. -MalayaDailyToday
