KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 ― Malaysia's largest palm oil producing state, Sabah, has temporarily halted palm operations in one area after 11 cases of the new coronavirus were found there, the Bernama state news agency reported yesterday.

Palm plantations and mills in Felda Sahabat, operated by the world's largest crude palm oil producer, FGV Holdings, would be temporarily suspended and public movements banned as authorities carry out coronavirus containment efforts, a district police chief, Nasri Mansor, said.

The directive will remain in force until all residents in the community were tested and disinfection was completed, Bernama quoted Nasri as saying.

Sabah accounts for about 25 per cent of palm oil production in Malaysia.

The world's second-largest palm producer on Saturday reported a total of 5,305 positive coronavirus cases, 88 of whom have died. ― Reuters