Theme park announces plan to set up 10-inversion rollercoaster

A file image of a loop in a roller coaster. An inversion is a section where riders are turned upside down. The proposed ride in MAPS will feature 10 inversions.

Movie Animation Theme Park (MAPS) is set to have a “10-inversion” rollercoaster, said to be only the third such ride in the world.

Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) Business Operation deputy chief executive officer Rustam Apandi Jamaludin said the park had purchased the rollercoaster for about RM20mil and was now planning its location within the theme park.

“It could be situated next to the lake here.

“We are also in the midst of getting approval for the ride,” he said.

“It will be a ride solely owned by us and not linked to any brands,” he said, adding that the ride was expected to be set up by the end of the year or early next year.

A 10-inversion rollercoaster is a ride where people aboard will be turned upside-down in 10 loops.

The other two rollercoasters of this kind are in Chimelong Paradise in Guangdong, China, and Thorpe Park in England.

On the recent report that its turnkey contractor, Daya Sejahtera Sdn Bhd, formerly known as The Sanderson Design Group (M) Sdn Bhd, was facing a liquidation order by the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Rustam Apandi said the winding up was voluntary and it would not have any negative impact on the theme park.

“As our turnkey contractor, they were to complete the theme park and hand it over to Perak Corporation Bhd (PCB), a subsidiary of PKNP.

“It is true that the Sanderson Design Group owns a small stake in MAPS, but it is not enough to have any impact on the theme park’s operations.

“We are running normally and will continue to upgrade the park,” he said, adding that PCB owned 51% share of the theme park, RSG MAPS Sdn Bhd owned 34% and 14.7% was individually owned.

Rustam Apandi said the theme park was a long-term project and it would take some time to get the returns on the investment.

“Like any other theme park, it could take between five and 10 years.

“We hope the public will not misinterpret the news or the viability of our operations.

“We will continue to improve the theme park and make it better,” he said, adding that the park received some 6,000 visitors over the past weekend.