KUALA LUMPUR – Police are investigating the authenticity of videos making rounds on social media depicting a daredevil Russian couple scaling the world’s second tallest building, Merdeka 118, on Wednesday.
The Star quoted Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Datuk Yahaya Othman as saying that the authorities are not ruling out the possibility that the viral clips had been edited.
This is despite the couple – Ivan Beerkus and Angela Nikolau – having previously confirmed their climb of the 679m skyscraper, which is still under construction.
According to Yahaya, he has been informed by the management of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), the owner of the 118-storey tower, that the tight security in the premises meant it would have been impossible for anyone to enter or climb the structure.
“We are not ruling out the possibility that the videos were digitally modified,” he was reported to have said during a New Year’s Eve operation here.
Yahaya said police will be consulting the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to verify the authenticity of the clip, and are also obtaining the immigration records of the foreigners.
One police report has been lodged to date over the trespassing incident.
News of Beerkus and Nikolau scaling up Merdeka 118 first broke on Tuesday after a photo of them atop the high-rise was posted on SkyscraperCity.com. The couple confirmed their stunt two days later through separate Instagram posts.
Beerkus uploaded drone footage of the pair standing on the spire of the tower, saying it is “the most beautiful building where I have ever been”.
Meanwhile, Nikolau posted a video of her sitting on the spire with an accompanying caption similarly describing the Merdeka 118 as the most beautiful skyscraper she has been to.
In a statement following the viral videos, PNB Merdeka Ventures, the subsidiary managing the tower, issued a statement saying legal action will be taken against any person found trespassing on the site.
“We wish to highlight that the Merdeka 118 development is still very much a live construction site and safety remains our priority.”
“An investigation is currently underway. As a private property, any trespassers will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” it said.
The couple is known to scale some of the most dangerous structures around the world, journalling their experiences on Instagram. – The Vibes, January 1, 2023
