A plaque marking where the Vision 2020 time capsule was planted at the Kuala Lumpur Tower was removed for safety reasons, according to the skyscraper’s operator.
LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd said the plaque originally functioned as a cover for the special chamber where the time capsule was located, but could no longer be securely closed after the capsule was opened on April 13.
“This posed a risk of injury to visitors passing by the area. Therefore, it was removed for safety reasons, in line with the management’s priority to ensure the well-being of all visitors,” said the company’s CEO Khairil Faizal Othman in a statement.
Khairil added that there were no longer any historical elements or artifacts stored in the chamber after the time capsule was opened by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He also said the plaque had not been discarded but has been “properly stored” by the company, though he did not elaborate on its whereabouts.
Khairil also denied that the company intended to erase or alter history by removing the plaque, in response to a claim by Bersatu MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
He said: “All actions taken were based on safety considerations, corporate compliance, and a commitment to preserving the legacy of KL Tower.” Khairil added that the plaque featured the tower’s old corporate logo and that it cannot be used for official display in line with the skyscraper’s rebranding.
Earlier today, Wan Saiful reportedly urged communications minister Fahmi Fadzil to explain why the plaque had been removed, saying it should have stayed put since it was meant to commemorate the time capsule planted in 1996.
The Tasek Gelugor MP questioned if the government was attempting to erase history, particularly Mahathir’s role in planting the time capsule.
