Malaysia's new multi-billion dollar international airport at Kuala Lumpur has found itself troubled by an age-old problem - it is being overrun with rats.

One recent flight was delayed for 15 hours when a rat was found on board a departing plane.

Officials fear the rats could gnaw through wires in the airport or even on the planes.

They have called in a firm of rat catchers who have set a series of traps throughout the airport after rats were spotted in both the departure and arrivals area.

They are also using special sonic equipment to deter the pests.

Officials concede there is a "sizeable" rat population.

The 10,000-hectare airport opened just over a fortnight ago on the site of a former palm oil plantation.

It has been beset by teething problems, including the failure of a central computer system which caused long flight delays and lost luggage.