Kuala Lampur, Jan. 30 -- Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew today said that, as a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, the state has decided to temporarily suspend all scheduled and chartered flights from China to Sabah with immediate effect.

Liew said the decision was made during the state Cabinet meeting yesterday and stressed that this was only a temporary measure with the interest of the people in mind.

"Although this suspension will have repercussions on the state's tourism industry, the government is seriously looking at the health and welfare of Sabahans, and we want to avoid the risk of exposing our people to any possible carriers of the coronavirus infection.

"This travel ban is a ver...