Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building on the planet, has hosted its first wedding. On October 10, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman and singer-actress Bella Astillah exchanged vows 118 floors above Kuala Lumpur, with the marriage declared valid at 10.40am after a mas kahwin of RM500.

The couple — known to fans as BASS — got engaged on March 28 and kept the momentum going with a ceremony at the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur inside the tower. Around 255 guests in white filed in from 8am for an Arabian-inspired celebration, and thousands more watched the livestream on Astro's platforms. The guest list read like a who's-who of Malaysian politics and entertainment: former PMs Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Muhyiddin Yassin, Khairy Jamaluddin, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, plus actors and comedians including Nabil Ahmad.

The gift exchange was notably modern. Syed Saddiq's hantaran included RM100,000 in EPF savings via i-Simpan, an Umrah package, a master's scholarship at Taylor's University for Bella, plus a home gym, massage chair, road bike and insurance cover for her two children, Ayden and Ara. Bella countered with a gold ring, Christian Louboutin shoes, a Quran, perfume, a custom Iron Man-themed gold piece and a triathlon entry — a nod to the groom's endurance-racing habit. Both wore Zaimi Zulkafli designs, and former Federal Territories mufti Datuk Seri Zulkifli Mohamad al-Bakri officiated, with Bella's father acting as wali.

For travellers, the real hook is the venue. Merdeka 118's observation deck already draws visitors keen to look out over Kuala Lumpur from one of the world's highest viewpoints, and the Park Hyatt inside the tower is now firmly on the map as a statement address for big occasions. If you want a taste of the celebrations yourself, the couple are throwing open the party: receptions at Mitec in Kuala Lumpur on October 18, then public Kenduri Rakyat events in Muar, Johor (October 25) and Kota Bendabalu — sorry, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (October 31), all open to members of the public.

A reality special, Walimatul Urus Bella Astillah & Syed Saddiq, is documenting the whole run across eight episodes, so expect the tower and its sky-high views to feature heavily on screens in the weeks ahead. Sweetest moment of the day? Bella's son Ayden saying he finally has someone to call Daddy — hard to beat, even 118 floors up. — Malay Mail Life