However, seven patients were discharged from hospital, bringing the total number of recoveries to 8,978.
Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said there were 188 active cases, nine of which were being treated at the intensive care unit, with six needing respiratory assistance.
The six new cases see the total number of infections increase to 9,291.
Of the six, one was an imported case involving a foreigner who returned from Singapore.
The five local transmissions involved Malaysians – three from the Tawar cluster and two from the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Kedah.
No new deaths were recorded, with the toll remaining at 125.
Noor Hisham said the three cases linked to the Tawar cluster pushed the total number of infections in the cluster to 73.
To date, a total of 4,051 individuals from the cluster have been screened.
He said the authorities have initiated several preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus.
“This includes active case detection, tightening enforcement of SOPs and shutting down schools and premises,” he added in a statement.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR LIVE UPDATE OF THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN MALAYSIA