The records show that the Komplex Tun Abdul Razak's (Komtar) tower at its completion in 1985 was the tallest building in Asia - and Malaysia of course. What this often quoted statistic fails to reveal is how cutting edge its concept and design was (and still is). Never before had such a massive urban regeneration project of this type been undertaken in Malaysia, which placed social and administrative benefits at the heart of its planning.
Komtar's looming physical presence is a reminder of Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu's vision for Penang, yet the background to its construction provides a more revealing insight into a time when Penang's "can-do" spirit led the way. Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat, the principal architect and director of the Komtar development consortium, explains.
