By Xavier Kong
UDA Holdings Bhd chairman Hisham Hamdan has decried media reports that he had brought Covid-19 to Malaysia, and that he was the cause of the second round of infections. Hisham was Malaysia’s 26th confirmed case of Covid-19.
This was due to Hisham having visited Shanghai from Jan 13 to 17, after which he attended several events and came into close contact with what was reported to be over 200 people.
“While it is true that I am linked to the second wave of cases, being linked to and being the source of are two entirely different things,” said Hisham in a media statement dated March 6.
He noted that, according to current scientific and medical research, the incubation period for Covid-19 is two weeks, and that the first recorded case in Shanghai was on Jan 20.
The Ministry of Health issued an advisory on Jan 25 for Malaysians to postpone or avoid travel to China, with the World Health Organisation officially declaring Covid-19 a “public health emergency of international concern” on Jan 30.
Furthermore, he notes that the earliest close contact patients linked to him are from a meeting on Feb 21, 5 weeks after he had returned from Shanghai.
“Given that I returned on Jan 17, and given that I exhibited symptoms on Feb 27, it is – as far as medical research is concerned – not possible for me to have obtained the virus from my trip to Shanghai,” said Hisham, who shared that his family have all tested negative for Covid-19.
Hisham first exhibited symptoms on Feb 27, after which he went to the Subang Jaya Medical Centre to get tested for dengue and Covid-19. He received the news of testing positive on Feb 28. He claimed he had stayed at home since leaving the hospital. He was then directed to Sungai Buloh Hospital on Feb 29 to be isolated and treated, with the positive results confirmed then.
He also shared that he was at several meetings from Feb 21 to 27 with individuals who have since been confirmed positive for the Covid-19 disease, when he started exhibiting symptoms.
“As I mentioned, the MoH is still searching for Patient Zero. I just happened to be the first person who was tested from this string of meetings. At the same time, it is worth noting that there were certain meetings on the morning of the 24th of February where all 13 non-UDA board and management individuals all tested negative,” he says.
He also admits to attending a ministry function in his capacity as chairman of UDA on Feb 27, clarifies that he did not attend any political functions.
Hisham also commends the Malaysian healthcare system and the people on the frontline of combating the virus in the country. March 6, 2020
Here is Hisham’s statement in full: STATEMENT BY HISHAM HAMDAN, COVID-19 PATIENT – 6 March 2020
