British High Commission to move to Menara Binjai next year

KUALA LUMPUR: The British High Commission in Jalan Ampang is to be relocated to a spanking new complex nearby. The yet-to-be-opened Menara Binjai will be the new address of the high commission. The owners of the 35-storey complex have signed an agreement to rent the 27th floor out to the British.

The relocation, expected to be completed early next year, is to prepare for the sale of the existing high commission building.

Power tower: Menara Binjai off Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur.

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had given its approval for the process to be handled via tender which is expected to be called shortly.

The decision to sell the building comes in the wake of the FCO having to cope with a multi-million-pound budget reduction.

The relocation will save costs as the high commission had estimated that it is cheaper to rent premises than to maintain the present chancery.

Deputy High Commissioner Ray Kyles said yesterday that the decision to relocate also coincided with Britain's renewed commitment to invest in its relations with Malaysia and “to meet the needs of 21st century diplomacy”.

“The new high commission premises will accommodate about 60 staff members in a modern environment making best use of the latest information technology.

“Our staff are currently stationed over four floors in mainly separate offices, which reflect how offices were designed at that time. This contrasts dramatically with Menara Binjai, which would accommodate our staff in a single floor of modern, efficiently designed and predominantly open plan offices,'' he said.

Kyles said the high commissioner's residence in Jalan Langgak Golf, which would be retained, had been refurbished.

The high commission moved from the historical Carcosa mansion, used as the residence and office of a succession of British high commissioners, to its present location which was officially declared open by Queen Elizabeth II in 1989.

Located within the federal capital's “Golden Triangle”, the building sprawls over 1.21ha and is said to be able to fetch a price of at least RM200mil.

Besides the office complex, the chancery grounds also include flats and apartment units for British diplomats.

Over the 2008-09 period, the FCO sold over £60mil (RM300mil) worth of property in 11 countries.

By The Star Online

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/13/nation/11652508&sec=nation