LONDON: The success of Malaysian companies in overseas markets proves that Malaysians can be world leaders and world beaters, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Citing the regeneration of Battersea Power Station and Eco World International Bhd’s (EWI) three property developments in London as examples, Najib said such investments contribute to the government’s plan to raise Malaysia’s status to a high-income nation by 2020.
“Projects like this all contribute to our plan to raise Malaysia to high- income nation status in several years and show that Malaysians can be world leaders and world beaters, wherever they are building, working, trading, teaching, or however they are participating in local societies and economies,” he said.
The Battersea redevelopment is undertaken by a consortium comprising SP Setia Bhd, Sime Darby Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund.
EWI, meanwhile, is the developer of Embassy Gardens Phase 2, London City Island Phase 2 and Wardian London through Eco World Ballymore Holding Co Ltd. The three projects have a combined gross development value of £2.5 billion.
EWI, which is led by Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin who has been the driver for Battersea, has a 75 per cent stake in Eco World Ballymore.
“It seems not too long ago that I was standing on the rooftop of Battersea Power Station, witnessing a historic ground-breaking ceremony. A consortium of Malaysian companies had made headlines by outbidding the rest of the world to undertake a massive redevelopment plan in the Nine Elms area,” said Najib at the topping-out of the core of Legacy Building 1, one of three towers of Embassy Gardens.
“The site had been derelict for 30 years, and as Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron said then, it was ‘a great day’. He thanked Malaysia for helping get a development going in the heart of London that had been delayed for too long.
“Today is another ‘great day’ as I am again on a rooftop and at the cusp of another historic moment — the topping-out of the core for Legacy Building 1 at Embassy Gardens. The reason why I refer to this as history in the making is because I have been informed that when completed, Embassy Gardens will have a 25m swimming pool suspended between two apartment blocks — the first of its kind in the world.
“I am sure it will swiftly become a well-known landmark, although I must say that taking the plunge in such a pool will not be for the faint-hearted. I look forward to its completion but I can’t promise to take a dip myself!”
Najib acknowledged the contribution of Liew, who he said continued to make headway in international markets flying the Malaysian flag high.
He also congratulated Eco World Ballymore for coming up with such a vision that will push the boundaries of design and innovation.
“The regeneration of Battersea Power Station by a Malaysian consortium has been a real flag bearer for our country and I believe that Eco World’s presence in the capital will reinforce the message that Malaysia believes in London.”
He said Malaysia and the United Kingdom have strong ties.
“We are raising them to new levels of cooperation, and that is good for Britain, and it is good for Malaysians who benefit from the mutual investment,” he added.