A man suspected of suffering from Sars has died, Malaysian health officials said today.

The initial diagnosis for the cause of death was "aspiration pneumonia", health ministry deputy director-general Ismail Merican was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency. Aspiration pneumonia commonly occurs among the elderly and stroke sufferers, he said.

The 71-year-old patient had received treatment in Singapore for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and diabetes between May 6-9 and had been hospitalised here since May 14, he said.

Sars virus testing

"Clinical specimens of the victim have been sent for Sars virus testing," Hassan Abdul Rahman of the Sars operations room here told AFP.

It would be known within three days whether they prove positive for Sars, he said.

The man had been treated as a Sars patient after developing a fever and cough o­n May 13, Hassan said.

Meanwhile, Ismail said no new Sars cases had been reported in the last 24 hours.

Two people have died from seven Sars infections in Malaysia and there has been a major impact o­n business.