The Sarawak elections has taken a turn for the worst when six people, including a deputy minister and an MP went missing after their helicopter lost contact with the base yesterday. The six were going from Kuching to Betong.
The ride from Betong to Kuching typically takes 35 to 45 minutes, and the helicopter lost contact at the 20th minute. No distress call was received by the control tower.
Channel News Asia has reported that part of a floatation device and part of a helicopter wall, including a rotor blade and a seat has been found near Batang Lupar. However, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, the Director General of the Department of Civil Aviation said that “it’s too early to tell” and we should wait for the investigators to confirm if the pieces found really belong to the missing helicopter.
The six on the missing helicopter were Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Noriah Kasnon, her husband Asmuni Abdullah, Kuala Kangsar MP and chairman of Malaysian Palm Oil Board Wan Mohammad Khairil, Secretary General of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities Sundaran Annamalai and bodyguard Ahmad Sobri.
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