CIMB chief Nazir 'watching Maybank'

Published: 2009/09/09

THE new RM400 million Menara Bumiputra-Commerce, CIMB Group's pride and new headquarters, has boosted the group's motivation to "gain a local presence" in the city, literally.

The 39-storey building, located at the intersection of Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, adds to the "architecturally inspiring skyline" of the local banking industry.

" My room has a nice view of (Datuk Abdul) Wahid’s Menara (Maybank). Everyday, I will be watching Maybank," group chief executive of CIMB Group, Datuk Seri Nazir Tun Razak said.

Abdul Wahid is the president and chief executive officer of the Maybank Group.

Nazir's remarks came at a press conference after Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin officially launched Menara Bumiputra-Commerce in Kuala Lumpur today.

Nonetheless, Nazir, whose room is on the 36th floor, needs to "look up" to the office of Abdul Wahid as it is on the 48th floor of Menara Maybank.

Asked whether he will be watching Menara Maybank with a view of "merging", he replied with a long "no".

"It is a view of watching what Wahid is up to. What is he having in life."

Although both Nazir and Wahid can "see" each other via their glass buildings there is another entity that would be "eyeing" them at every angle and that is Bank Negara Malaysia.

Both buildings have "something in common" anyway whereby they have "the best view" of the central bank's building at Jalan Dato Onn.

On why the headquarters was launched today, Nazir said that, "Today''s date, 9-9-2009, is historic on its own."

In addition, he said today is "day one" for CIMB to be rebranded as a listed holding company.

With the historic name "Bumiputra-Commerce" safely enshrined on this new landmark of Kuala Lumpur, Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd is renamed CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and its shares trade as "CIMB" on Bursa Malaysia, as of today.

This name change completes CIMB's multi-year brand harmonisation for all corporate entities within the group across Southeast Asia.

"From Chiang Rai to Bali, our 36,000 employees now answer to customers as one CIMB," said Nazir. - Bernama