IPOH (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Eight mainland Chinese tourists who were held in isolation by Malaysian health officers at a hotel in Johor Baru have tested negative for the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The group, who had entered Malaysia from Singapore, had contact with the man who was confirmed to have the virus on the island republic.

Johor's health and human resources committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan told reporters on Friday (Jan 24) that the eight tourists have tested negative.

He said that the movement of the eight tourists, four of them children, would be closely monitored by the state Health Department.

Mr Aminolhuda thanked the Singapore Health Ministry for immediately informing Malaysia about the eight Chinese nationals who came into close contact with their countryman who tested positive for the virus in the island republic on Thursday.

"This information channelled by Singapore enabled us to locate the eight tourists at a hotel here.

"The tourists are not being quarantined as they are healthy and there is also no need to quarantine the whole hotel or any of its guests and workers.

"We have conducted clinical tests on the eight tourists and they tested negative for the coronavirus," he told a news conference on Friday.

Malaysia's Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said earlier on Friday in Ipoh that there were no cases in Malaysia so far.

"There were four suspected cases on Wednesday (Jan 22), but all tested negative.

"The Health Ministry will beef up its temperature screening for all passengers at all airports in the country," he said.