The official groundbreaking for the Kuala Lumpur Tower was overseen by the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad on 1 October 1991. Construction of the tower was a three-phase process. The first phase was the widening of Jalan Bukit Nanas and the excavation of soil from the construction site. This phase was completed on 1 August 1992. On 1 July 1992, the second phase began with the construction of the foundation and basement of the tower. Approximately 50,000 cubic metres of concrete were continuously poured for 31 hours, thus setting a record in the Malaysian construction industry. The foundation work, requiring no piling, was completed on 1 April 1993. The third phase was the construction of the 'superstructure' which began in May 1994. The construction of the tower started with the erection of the tower shaft, then the tower head. As the finishing touches to the tower head were applied, the construction of the touristic building began. The main lobby of the upper ground floor is decorated with exquisite glass-clad domes that sparkle like giant diamonds. These domes were designed and arranged in the form of the Muqarnas by Iranian craftsmen from Isfahan. On 13 September 1994, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad performed the 'topping-up ceremony' where the antenna mast was installed, thus marking the final height of the tower, 421 metres above the ground. After installation of facilities and amenities, Menara Kuala Lumpur was opened to public on 23 July 1996. Menara Kuala Lumpur was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on 1 October 1996 at 20:30 MST. Among the distinguished guests were the Yang di-Pertuan AgongTuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Raja Permaisuri AgongTuanku Najihah, the wives of the Sultan of Brunei, Sultana Hajah Saleha and Princess Hajah Mariam Binti Abdul Aziz.
Broadcasting
Kuala Lumpur Tower, a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, is utilised by several organisations for various broadcasting purposes. Originally intended only for television broadcasting, radio antennas were included during the construction. The tower now broadcasts free-to-airterrestrial television stations that use the tower's antenna include: Media telecommunications and broadcasting mast. Television stations which are transmitted from the tower includes private station, NTV7 a subsidiary of Media Prima Berhad broadcasting through UHF obtained from an antenna by 200 metres. Malaysia currently employs both analogue broadcasting and all television broadcasting is to be analogue. Kuala Lumpur Tower is not a reliable broadcasting antenna for completely digital broadcasting because the tower is not tall enough to transmit the higher frequency waves needed to areas surrounded by forests or high-rise buildings. As an alternative, a new 421-metre-tall. To make Kuala Lumpur Tower more appealing to one free-to-air terrestrial commercial broadcasting on Media Prima Berhad who plan to move their transmitting stations to the new tower have drafted a plan to extend its digital broadcasting antenna by 401 to 421 metres. To increase the height of the tower's antenna by 421 metres, the structure itself will have to be lengthened by 200 metres, which would cost approximately RM4 billion. In addition to covering this cost, the company would put RM3.5 billion into refurbishing the transmitting station, offering four times more area to each broadcaster. Current Kuala Lumpur aviation restrictions limit Kuala Lumpur Tower's height, but has stated that the company plans to discuss the matter with related ministries and agencies. If these plans are not realised, however, Kuala Lumpur Tower is expected to stop transmitting television waves with the exception of Media Prima Berhad, who will continue to broadcast through the tower. also pointed out the possibility of the tower depending on what the television broadcasters want or need.
Channels listed by frequency
Television
UHF 35 – NTV7
All services television broadcast at 20 kW relay of Kuala Lumpur Tower based in Klang Valley
Facts
The KL Tower is the seventh tallest telecommunication tower in the world. Built to enhance the quality of telecommunication services and the clarity of broadcasting, KL Tower is a symbol of Kuala Lumpur. The structure is divided into five basic sections:
The foundation base houses three basement floors for safety purposes, storage and maintenance work.
The touristic building bears the administration office, souvenir shops and the 146-metre-long pedestrian mall with cascading pools.
The tower shaft comprises 22 levels with four elevators and flights of stairs with a total of 2,058 steps.
The tower head holds the public observation platform and revolving restaurant, as well as the telecommunication and broadcasting stations.
The antenna mast crowns the tower and is utilised for telecommunication and broadcasting transmissions.
When constructing the KL Tower, the builders took special care to construct a retaining wall around a 100-year-old jelutong tree. The tower was moved at a cost of RM430,000 to avoid harming the monumental tree, which is found near the pedestrian mall. KL Tower is managed by Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Telekom Malaysia Group. KL Tower was the first Pit Stop in The Amazing Race Asia 1 and fielded a route marker on the final leg of the same season.
Tourists visit KL Tower to have a 360-degree view of the city. The lift takes only 54 seconds going up to the observation deck and takes 52 seconds to come down.
