Berita Harian journalist who returned from Sabah assignment tests positive for Covid-19

PETALING JAYA: A Berita Harian journalist has tested positive for Covid-19, four days after returning from Sabah.

Azrul Affandi Sobry, 42, said he believed he could have contracted the virus when he was covering events unfolding outside Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal's house in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 28.

"On that day, a large crowd of Shafie's supporters gathered outside his house.

"Many of them were from the high-risk Semporna district, which is Shafie's stronghold.

"And many were not wearing masks," he said.

Azrul was in Sabah from Sept 10 to Sept 30 to cover the Sabah state elections.

"A day after returning from Sabah, I started coughing. I also had joint pains and I felt weak.

"All others who returned with me were tested negative. Swab samples were taken upon arrival at KLIA on Sept 30.

"I tested positive. I was whisked to the Sungai Buloh Hospital at 11.30pm Sunday night, soon as the results came out," he said from the isolation ward at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

Azrul had taken pre-emptive measures to avoid exposing his family to the virus even before the results were known.

"Before I returned home, I asked my wife to stay over at her parents' house together with our five children (aged between five and 14).

"I did not want to take any risk. I stayed home alone in the house after returning from Sabah.

"And four days later, I was rushed to the hospital," he said when contacted Monday.