All night markets, weekly 'tamu', wholesale markets, fruit stalls and open stalls here have been ordered to immediately close temporarily.

Tawau Municipal Council deputy president, Koh Kian Leong in a statement said the directive was issued on the advice of the Health Ministry Malaysia at a meeting of the Tawau District Disaster Management Committee yesterday.

"The closure is to curb the spread of COVID-19," he added.

Koh said re-opening of the markets and stalls involved would be announced in due course.

"Any difficulty faced by traders during the closure period is regretted," he said.

-- BERNAMA