This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 24, 2025 – November 30, 2025
Malaysian Urban Transformation Icon | Petronas Twin Towers | KLCC Property Holdings Bhd
It is said that a visit to Malaysia is incomplete without seeing and visiting the iconic PETRONAS Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Sitting on 5.4 acres within the Kuala Lumpur city centre, the twin towers have 88 storeys each with a sky bridge on Levels 41 and 42, which is 170 m (558 ft) above the ground and 58.4 m (192 ft) long. The towers have a total net lettable area of 3.2 million sq ft.
Standing at 452 m or 1,483 ft, this impressive structure was completed in 1996 and officially opened in 1999. Excavation started in March 1992 and it took six years to build at a cost of RM6 billion.
Architect César Pelli designed the twin towers according to Islamic geometric forms of two interlocking squares, creating a shape of an eight‑pointed star, which represents the Islamic principles of unity, harmony, stability and rationality.
KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd (KLCCH) group CEO Datuk Mohd Salem Kailany, who came into his role on Nov 1 last year, oversees the twin towers and recalls the early days of the development. One day he passed the site and saw two large hills of sand that quickly disappeared during the concrete pour for the foundation of the building.
“As the building progressed, the remarkable thing that I could see about the construction was the sky bridge, because you see two twin towers coming up and then you have a bridge that had to be lifted up into position and this bridge is independent of the two structures,” Salem tells City & Country.”
The foundation of PETRONAS Twin Towers saw the single largest and longest concrete pour in Malaysian history, where about 13 200 cu m of concrete was continuously poured per tower for a period of 54 hours.
The towers won The Edge Malaysia Outstanding Property Project Award in 2012. Despite being nearly three decades old, PETRONAS Twin Towers continue to stand tall proudly as the tallest twin towers in the world, showcasing engineering excellence. For their iconic status and strong brand, they have been awarded The Edge Malaysia Property Development Excellence Award for Malaysian Urban Transformation Icon of The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Awards 2025.
Managing an iconic structure
“When you look at [the towers], it is really like ‘Wow, this is an amazing thing’ and this represents what Malaysia is — a small country in Southeast Asia with the ability to hold the record of the highest building in the world from 1998 to 2004 before being overtaken by Taipei 101. But we continue to be the tallest twin towers in the world. The twin towers are something that’s really unique to us,” Salem says.
It is this uniqueness that has required continual upkeep and upgrade of the building, especially since it is nearly 30 years old.
Salem understands his assignment.
“We have put in place aspects of the cleaning, the back of house, the running, the system behind it and aspects of security. So, all those things are something that I have been looking at for the past one year and I’m excited to continue on this journey together with the team,” he adds.
PETRONAS Twin Towers are managed by KLCC Urusharta Sdn Bhd, a wholly‑owned subsidiary of KLCC Property Holdings Bhd (KLCCP), whose immediate holding company is KLCCH, the master developer of the 100‑acre KLCC precinct.
KLCCH holds the majority stake of 64.7 % in KLCCP Stapled Group — the largest real estate investment trust (REIT) and only stapled security in the country — which comprises KLCCP and KLCC REIT.
PETRONAS Twin Towers are leased to Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) under a triple‑net lease agreement for a term of 15 years that will expire on 30 September 2027. However, PETRONAS has exercised its option to extend the lease for another 15 years until 30 September 2042.
To ensure the towers continue to stay relevant, Salem explains that there are continuous upgrades to ensure the buildings keep up with the times. For instance, the towers have been recertified with a gold rating by Green Building Index to ensure they stay sustainable and continue to reduce their carbon footprint.
One noted upgrade Salem highlights is the shift from a building automation system to an Integrated Building Command Centre (IBCC) in 2021. The command centre is located in Tower 2.
“We used to have a building automation system that monitored lifts, lighting, water pump, generator and so on. Now, we have the IBCC, which also addresses how we can make the building more energy‑efficient.
“We can also control certain items remotely so that access to some areas is only granted to select individuals, allowing for intervention in case of emergency when certain functions need to be operational — for the fire department, for example,” explains Salem.
In the early morning of Nov 1, a fire broke out in PETRONAS Tower 3 — located next to PETRONAS Twin Towers — on level 57 and was quickly brought under control. Salem points to a state of preparedness that allowed them to deal with the incident swiftly and efficiently.
“As far as the state of preparedness goes, we have our IBCC, where we monitor all the sensors, CCTVs and activities within the precinct.
“We have a building control centre for each building, so this is where the speedy response comes in. I would like to thank Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia for the quick action. All systems were running well and we were able to assist the fire and rescue department in gaining access [to the floors] all the way up to level 57 and put out the fire. There were no casualties,” he says.
To further instil this discipline to be well prepared, a fire drill simulating a real‑life situation was conducted recently. An added feature that helped them pass with flying colours was the use of the RFID system, in which everyone — staff or visitor — has to wear an RFID tag so that, with the aid of sensors, the exact headcount is accurate.
Furthermore, for security purposes and also quick identification, a face‑recognition system at the main entrance lobby has also been installed.
Additionally, exterior LED lights were added to liven up the towers on special occasions and when commemorating important dates in the country’s history — for example, display of the Jalur Gemilang during Independence Day/Hari Merdeka celebrations. This system requires training and understanding of its use, which Salem says provides upskilling training for the staff.
Most recently, a café has opened on level 83 of Tower 2. It serves light meals and beverages for any visitor who has purchased a full tower admission ticket.
Plans are afoot to upgrade their lavatory facilities — starting next year on a progressive basis — as well as the premier Suria KLCC mall within the precinct, which will take up to three years to complete. There is also an ongoing pipe replacement programme to ensure operational reliability, water efficiency and compliance with evolving building standards.
An upgrade in the planning stages includes a lift modernisation feasibility study to enhance vertical mobility through smart, energy‑efficient solutions that improve performance and long‑term sustainability.
Spillover effects
Besides being the nation’s pride and joy, PETRONAS Twin Towers’ status as the tallest twin towers in the world has also been recognised internationally. Last year, the towers were bestowed with the Global Icon Award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. It is the second building to receive the honour after Burj Khalifa, which was recognised a decade ago.
Salem reckons that this award showcases how the building’s influence has spread beyond its physical setting.
“To give you a sense of numbers, if you’re talking about visitors to the towers, I think in the past 10 years, there have been about eight million whereas if you’re discussing people who took photographs of the towers — now we have AI to count — the number runs into multiple millions.”
Suria KLCC mall, which has international and local retailers, has benefited. Also within the KLCC precinct is KLCC Park, an oasis in the heart of the city that now boasts an upgraded running track, Salem highlights.
“This park [has become] the pulse of the nation. It’s important for us to contribute to reducing obesity and creating healthy lifestyles because sometimes, for exercise, you only need half an hour. So rather than be stuck in traffic, you can exercise at the park, do two laps, use the exercise equipment. Or just enjoy the view of the PETRONAS Twin Towers, which can be therapeutic,” he says.
To further promote a more sustainable mindset, the group introduced Sustainable September in 2022. This year’s edition carried the theme “Liveable and Lovable KL Precinct”, reflecting its vision of creating a more sustainable, inclusive and vibrant city centre.
One of the activities was to plant 50 new trees in the park, alongside sharing knowledge on sustainable habits, such as what to do with used cooking oil and how to have a healthy lifestyle.
Moreover, Salem explains that besides looking at the context of the KLCC precinct, they also consider outreach activities. These include beach clean‑ups, taking care of mangroves and setting up solar‑powered street lights in remote places.
As for what is in store for the KLCC precinct, he shares, “There are a few investments that we will be putting in. Some we will do progressively and will reveal to the market. The one that is closest is Ombak — a lifestyle mall, next to the Persiaran KLCC MRT station — which is slated for opening next year.”
As the interview draws to a close, Salem reflects on how the towers are not just a symbol of a prosperous and progressive nation, but also play a role in uniting its people.
“We are blessed in that we have a peaceful country that is multicultural, multi‑ethnic, and everyone comes together in times of celebration [such as New Year’s Eve, Independence Day and festive occasions]. We feel that the PETRONAS Twin Towers and the whole KLCC precinct have a duty to contribute to the positivity of the nation,” he says.
