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No sign missing helicopter made safe landing: Sarawak police

KUCHING — Sarawak police on Thursday night (May 5) refuted claims that the missing helicopter carrying six VIPs from Betong to Kuching had made a safe landing anywhere in the state.

The chopper, which went missing a few hours ago, is believed to have been carrying Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon (right), her husband Asmuni Abdullah and four others. Photo: Instagram screenshot via The Malay Mail Online

The chopper, which went missing a few hours ago, is believed to have been carrying Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon (right), her husband Asmuni Abdullah and four others. Photo: Instagram screenshot via The Malay Mail Online

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KUCHING — Sarawak police on Thursday night (May 5) refuted claims that the missing helicopter carrying six VIPs from Betong to Kuching had made a safe landing anywhere in the state.

Sarawak Police Commissioner Senior DCP Muhammad Sabtu Osman also said he could not confirm the identities of the passengers at this point in time but confirmed there were six passengers including the pilot and a personal bodyguard.

He said the flight, which departed at 4.12pm, lost communication at 4.32pm.

“We want to verify right now that there has been no sign of this aircraft landing in any district at this point in time,” the Sarawak police chief told a news conference here late Thursday night.

“If you ask me for tonight, I cannot give you any positive answer.

“If you ask for more details, I cannot deliver what you want (right now),” Mr Muhammad added.

The chopper, which went missing a few hours ago, is believed to have been carrying Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon, her husband Asmuni Abdullah and four others.

The four other individuals were the ministry’s secretary-general Dr Sundaran Annamalai, Kuala Kangsar MP and Malaysian Palm Oil Board member Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad and personal bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun, as well as the pilot of the flight RP-C 6828 Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas.

Mr Muhammad Sabtu said that the search and rescue team has begun its search in the districts of Sri Aman, Simunjan and Betong, with Triso in Sri Aman being the main focus.

He added that the state has deployed 13 marines, 30 personnel from the fire and rescue department, and 30 civil defence department personnel to aid in the search and rescue efforts.

“At this initial state there’s at least a hundred of us involved so far,” he said.

He also noted that the personnel deployed would not affect the manpower needed for polling day of the 11th Sarawak state elections that is set to take place this Saturday.

Separately, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said that a search and rescue mission to find a missing helicopter in Sarawak had been activated.

On his Twitter account, Mr Najib expressed worries over news that an aircraft had vanished.

“Deeply concerned about reports of helicopter missing between Betong and Kuching. Search and rescue activated. Let us pray for their (those on board) safety,” he said.

On Friday morning, Sarawak Police Commissioner Muhammad Sabtu Osman said the focus of the search and rescue mission for the missing helicopter will be spread throughout three districts: Sri Aman, Simunjan and Betong.

Mr Muhammad Sabtu said police had received a report from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) at 8.20pm and a team was deployed to the area to carry out the search and rescue operation.

"We have launched our search and rescue mission in Sri Aman, Simunjan and Betong," he said at a press conference.

He said 100 personnel from the Marine Police, Fire and Rescue Department, Police, General Operations Force and Civil Defence Department are involved in the mission.

At 6am Friday morning, a team from the Marine Police and a Police helicopter will head to the area and join the search and rescue mission," he said.

Mr Muhammad Sabtu also denied claims that the helicopter was found in Sri Aman. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE, BERNAMA

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