Malaysia postpones pre-Apec meeting due to virus spread

People wearing face masks cross a street next to commercial buildings in Kuala Lumpur on March 16, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

KUALA LUMPUR (REUTERS) - Malaysia has postponed a three-day meeting of finance and central bank officials from Apec countries that was scheduled to start on Tuesday (March 17) because of the coronavirus outbreak, a government spokesman said.

"The decision was made as a measure to protect the safety and health of all delegates as well as the secretariat," the spokesman said in a statement, adding no new date has been set yet.

Malaysia is slated to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November.

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