KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNN) -- A computer problem put a hitch in the first official day of flights Tuesday at Malaysia's new US$2.25 billion Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Thousands of passengers were stranded by the delays, which continued through the day.

"The Total Airport Management System broke down this morning causing delays in ticketing, baggage handling and gate allocation," an official at the airport said. "We understand it will take three days to get it up again."

Witnesses said that Cairo passengers had to wait up to four hours to pick up their baggage, while passengers on a flight from Singapore were stuck in the aircraft while the ground crew tried to connect it to the terminal.

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The new airport replaced the old Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport.

Malaysia is not the only Asian country pushing ahead with a new airport with much of the region in the throes of a currency crisis. Hong Kong's $20 billion Chek Lap Kok is to open Thursday, replacing the smaller Kai Tak airport. Both openings were planned long before the current economic crisis.

Reuters contributed to this report.