More than three years after it was first revealed that the A&W outlet was to be demolished to make way for a new high-rise development project, the owners KUB Malaysia Berhad have finally received approval from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) to start the project.

The outlet was first established in 1965 and is the country’s first drive-in restaurant. KUB took over operations of A&W Malaysia in 2001. The company also owns the franchise in Thailand.

Today, an MBPJ full board meeting met to decide on a recent one-stop-centre committee (OSC) ruling which had approved KUB’s development plans, The Star reported.

However, according to the daily, the approval was only for a one-block, 20-storey office tower inclusive of a four-storey carpark, instead of the 36-storey building proposed by KUB.

In August 2014, KUB had been reported as saying that it was planning to develop the 0.4 hectare land on which the A&W outlet sits, with two office towers called KUB Towers and relocate the A&W outlet while waiting for the project’s completion in 2018.

“I am deeply saddened that this iconic building is going to be torn down and I really wish that they didn’t have to do it.

“However, we also have to respect that this is a private land and the owner is allowed to develop the land in accordance with the guidelines and law,” Bukit Gasing assemblyman R Rajiv was quoted as saying by The Star.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2014/08/01/pj-to-lose-iconic-aw-landmark/