COVID-19 | Malaysia has recorded its first Covid-19 death after going without any casualties for a month.

The latest death is a 75-year-old man in Kedah. The state has recently recorded a spike in cases with three active Covid-19 infection groups, namely the Tawar cluster, Sivagangga cluster and Sala cluster.

The deceased, referred to as Case 9,290, had a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease, said Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement today.

The man had not gone abroad but on Aug 7, he developed a cough and shortness of breath.

He was admitted to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah for pneumonia and was discharged on Aug 18.

However, he again developed a cough and shortness of breath on Aug 21 and sought treatment on Aug 24 at the same hospital.

"A screening showed he was positive for Covid-19. His health condition deteriorated and he passed away on Aug 29 at 5.10pm," Noor Hisham said.

The last time Malaysia recorded a Covid-19 death was on July 29.

The latest passing brings the death toll to 126.

Noor Hisham also reported 17 new Covid-19 cases today, of which 15 were imported.

The majority of the imported cases were from India (12 cases), followed by Saudi Arabia (2) and Japan (1).

They comprised 11 Malaysians and four non-citizens.

The two locally transmitted cases were in Selangor and Kedah respectively. They are close contacts of existing Covid-19 cases.

The Selangor case is a close contact of Case 9,286 while the Kedah case is a close contact of Case 9,284. Both are Malaysians.

The new infections put the cumulative cases at 9,334, of which 9,048 have recovered, including 10 new recoveries today.

Seven of the Covid-19 patients are in the intensive care unit of which five need ventilators to breathe.