KUALA LUMPUR, 6 June: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, officiated the Worldwide Tower, which is the state’s landmark of pride, yesterday at Jalan Bukit Bintang.

The willingness of Sultan Sharafuddin to officiate the building reflects his concern towards efforts to accelerate economic sustainability of Selangor, as a whole.

The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the 25-storey landmark has the Green Building Index (GBI) accreditation which can attract local and foreign investors.

“The location of the tower, which is in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur metropolitan city, makes the Worldwide Tower the latest addition of skyscrapers surrounded by rows of business and commercial centres, as well as a landmark of Kuala Lumpur.

“The Worldwide Tower also received added value when it received the Malaysian Cyber Centre (MSC) status as a location that offers infrastructure with international standards and provides a conducive business environment.

“This is to attract investors who are expected to help the development of the local ICT industry,” he said when presenting greetings to Sultan Sharafuddin at the opening ceremony of the tower.

He said that so far, 72 percent of the 275,800 square feet Worldwide Tower has been filled with tenants from leading companies locally and internationally, which has been developed by the wholly owned Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) subsidiary company, Worldwide Holdings Bhd, and owned by another PKNS subsidiary, PKNS Real Estate Sdn Bhd.

Abdul Aziz said that the tower, which cost RM150 million, also offers high-speed broadband and an alfresco concept at the open area of the podium, while the current asset value gives a high return to PKNS, estimated to be worth about RM300 million.

The tower is another skyscraper in the Kuala Lumpur capital which began construction in 2008 and was fully completed in 2011.