Malaysian palm oil giant Sime Darby Berhad, under pressure from a cost overruns probe, said today its first quarter profits slid due to weakness in its plantations and energy divisions.

The world's largest listed palm oil producer said in a filing with the local bourse it made a net profit of RM654.7 million (US$206.9 million) for the three months ended Sept 30, a 4.37 percent drop from RM684.6 million a year earlier.