A weak earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.4 on the Richter scale, occurred at 1.40pm Friday in Pulau Banggi, Kudat, near here, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

It said in a statement that the epicentre of the quake was 328km southwest of Palawan, Philippines, and 60km northeast of Pitas, Sabah.

The quake did not pose any tsunami threat, it added.

Pulau Banggi is part of a group of islands located within the Kudat Division and off the northern coast of Sabah.