Bernama journalist found dead in Sandakan

KOTA KINABALU: A Bernama journalist based in Sandakan was found lifeless in her house on Sunday (March 17) afternoon.

Nur Adika Bujang, 46, was found in her bathroom at around 1.10pm.

According to her friends in Sandakan, they had not heard from her since Friday (March 15)and had decided to check on Nur Adika when she failed to respond to any of their text messages on Sunday.

It is learnt that her friends had arrived at her house to find it locked, with her car parked.

When firemen arrived, they broke open the door and found her lifeless body in the bathroom.

Medical personnel at the scene pronounced her dead, and police at the scene sent her remains to the Duchess of Kent Hospital for further action.

Her body is expected to be brought back to her hometown, Kota Kinabalu.

According to Bernama, Nur Adika's mother Nafsiah Bubin confirmed her death when contacted, adding that she had accepted what happened.

"She was a good child and always helped our family,” she shared and said that Nur Adika would be buried in Kota Kinabalu.

Meanwhile, Bernama chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin conveyed her condolences to Nur Adika’s family on behalf of the entire agency’s staff.

"We are shocked by the news of her passing, and we pray that she will be placed among the righteous with Allah’s blessings.

"Bernama will assist the family with bringing Nur Adika back to Kota Kinabalu,” she added.

Sabah Journalists Association expressed shock at her sudden passing.

"She was a good journalists who contributed immensely to the profession and the state.

"Her passing will felt by journalists in Sabah," said SJA president Datuk Muguntan Vanar.

Nur-ul Afida described Nur Adika as an excellent correspondent who was bilingual and creative in her writing, having won the Excellent Service Award three times, in 2014, 2020 and 2023.

Nur Adika served with Bernama as a journalist for nearly 20 years, beginning on Oct 31, 2005, and was appointed Sandakan correspondent on Jan 1, 2019.