In spite of the fact that it will only be formally launched to the public later this year, the second-tallest building in the world, PNB Merdeka 118, appears to already be a hive of activity for global adrenalin-seekers who are eager to conquer the latest addition to a host of global architectural feats.
Most controversially among them include Russian daredevil duo Angela Nikolau and her partner Ivan Beerkus, who managed to share a clip of her standing on the top of the tower’s spire overlooking Kuala Lumpur in December 2022.
American group trespassed into Merdeka 118 to climb spire
And while the couple have yet to be found by local authorities for their overt act of trespassing, it turns out that an American team of four men also managed to pull the very same stunt, only much earlier in 2022.
In a clip that was also uploaded in December of last year, digital content creator and self-declared urban explorer Isaac ‘Drift’ Wright, otherwise known as ‘Driftshoots’ on social media, documented how he and three of his other friends had managed to ascend up to the very top of the Merdeka 118 spire after breaking into the building’s premises under the cloak of night.
Without being detected by security, the quartet managed to battle through a thunderstorm to scale the full 679 metres of the tower, before eventually perching on the tip of the spire to catch the sunrise.
All 4 have been detained and charged back in 2022
However as it turns out, thee American group has since faced the consequences of their flagrant disregard for Malaysian law. As reported by local newspaper Sinar Harian, Merdeka 118’s owner, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) has confirmed that they were not only detained but also charged all the way back in May of 2022.
“We would like to stress that their acts did not only go against the law and are dangerous, but it also puts both the trespassers and the on-site workers at risk.”
“Therefore, we condemn all the illegal acts done on this development site to gain illegal commercial profit and popularity,” a statement from the company reads from yesterday (January 10th, 2022).
It was said that the group had trespassed into Merdeka 118 on 1st May 2022, before subsequently being charged on the same day under Section 457 of the Penal Code for ‘lurking, house-trespass or housebreaking in order to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment’. Upon conviction, offenders can face a jail term of up to five years and/or a fine.
Tap here to give us a ‘Like’ on Facebook and stay up-to-date on the latest news!
