Airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) is expected to invite local and foreign developers and investors this month to submit requests to be involved in the development of 2,700 acres around the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.

Under MAHB’s goal of expanding its revenue streams to include nonaeronautical activities, it has come up with a masterplan to turn what is currently oil palm plantation into the KLIA Aeropolis – an airport city accommodating buildings in keeping with KLIA’s sleek, modern design.

MAHB general manager of land development Muhd Najib Mohd Rawi said the site to be developed over the next 10 to 15 years has the advantage of being close to two major international gateways – the KLIA as well as the Low Cost Carrier Terminal.

The masterplan, he explained, provides for commercial buildings covering 1,000 acres, landscaped parks over 600 acres, a pair of 18-hole golf courses over another 600 acres, a stadium on 25 acres and a theme park to rival those in Genting Highlands or Sentosa Island in Singapore over 100 acres.

The initial phases of development will see the infrastructure in the commercial zone as well as an exposition and convention centre, retail outlets and purpose-built offices being built.

To attract developers and investors, MAHB will build a transport node similar to KL Sentral which will allow the Aeropolis’s occupants to be conveniently connected to the airport and KL city.

Altogether, MAHB has 18,000 acres in Sepang, with a substantial part classified under oil palm.