Regional markets were also buoyed by a bounce in Chinese equities as Beijing officials calmed investor fears over the spread of the Wuhan virus.
In Japan, equities were up 0.4% while South Korea's market climbed 1.75%.
Southeast Asian stocks were also bullish with the four largest markets ex-Malaysia putting on between 0.7% and 1.75% each.
At 12.30pm, the local index was up 18.83 points to 1,540.78. Heavyweight counters helping to lift the index included Petronas Dagangan jumping 46 sen to RM2.56, Petronas Gas climbing 34 sen to RM16.26 and Public Bank rising 28 sen to RM18.64.
Trading volume on Bursa Malaysia was 1.73 billion shares valued at RM1.1bil. There were 511 gainers, 296 decliners and 322 counters unchanged.
Top traded stocks on the exchange included AIRASIA
down 11 sen to RM1.17, DGB up one sen to 11 sen and Bumi Armada down 0.5 sen to 38.5 sen.Beverage makers topped the gainers list with Carlsberg gaining 72 sen to RM33.22, Heineken adding 64 sen to RM28.06 and F&N rising 50 sen to RM32.94.
Meanwhile, laggards ncluded Batu Kawan down 28 sen to RM16, Kluang falling 17 sen to RM3.41 and Malayan Cement sliding 11 sen to RM3.18.
Oil prices matched other financial markets to bounce higher following Monday's sharp sell-off.
WTI crude climbed 41 cents to US$50.57 a barrel while Brent crude rose 27 cents to US$54.72 a barrel.
On the currency market, the ringgit was flat against the greenback at 4.1330. It fell 0.1% against the pound sterling at 5.3531 and rose 0.2% against the Singapore dollar at 2.9987.
