Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby Berhad today said its net profit for the six months to December 2006 surged 87 percent to RM887.3 million.

Turnover was RM9.82 billion compared to RM10.09 billion for the same period in 2005, it said in a statement.

The governmnent-linked conglomerate attributed the result to disposal of its stake in an investment holding company and solid growth in all divisions except its motoring operations.

"We are pleased with the earnings momentum continuing from the outstanding performance in financial year 2005 to 2006 where we surpassed the one billion ringgit net profit mark for the first time," said group chief executive officer Ahmad Zubir Murshid.

Last August, the conglomerate reported net profits for the year to June rose 39 percent to RM1.12 billion.

In the six months to December, heavy equipment operations were the main contributor to profits, expanding by 19 percent compared to the same period a year earlier, it said.

The plantations division reported 20 percent year-on-year growth during the six months, on the back of higher average crude palm oil prices, it said.