Helicopter exploded mid air before crashing, witnesses tell rescuers
SEMENYIH: Witnesses told rescuers that the helicopter exploded mid air before crashing. The search and rescue team who reached the site where a helicopter crashed here today found five bodies charred beyond recognition.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Othman Abdullah said the helicopter was on fire when they arrived at 5.20pm. “We received information there were six people on board and we believe the sixth victim is pinned under the wreckage,” he said.
Othman said based on information received from villagers, the helicopter exploded mid air and crashed in the jungle. “All the bodies may be sent to Serdang Hospital. We hope to bring out the bodies in an hour,” he said, adding that the crash site was about 20 to 30 square metres.
Meanwhile Bernama reported that a witness, Roslan Harun, 54, a security guard on duty near the scene, said the mishap occured during heavy rain. “It exploded in mid-air, not so high from the ground. Then, the debris, tail and blades were thrown all over the place,” he told Bernama at the scene.
Zahid Hamidi: Don’t speculate heli crash, site secured for evidence collection
SERI KEMBANGAN: Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today urged the public not to speculate on yesterday’s ill-fated helicopter crash in Semenyih, which claimed the lives of Rompin member of parliament Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis and five others.
Zahid said the crash site has been secured for evidence collection, and a full investigation is being carried out. “There are deaths involved. Let’s not speculate or spread any news out of the ordinary.
“Regardless of any party, organisation of individual, we should respect the families of those who perished,” he told reporters outside Jamaluddin’s residence in Seri Kembangan here.
…
Beside Jamaluddin, who was also the chairman of PR1MA, those who perished in the helicopter crash at Jalan Sungai Lalang, Semenyih were the prime minister’s principal private secretary Datuk Azlin Alias, businessman Datuk Tan Huat Seang , Jamaluddin’s bodyguard Razakan Seran, pilot Clifford William Fournier and co-pilot Aidiana Baiziera.
KUALA LUMPUR: The US flag at its embassy here is being flown at half mast here in honour of Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis who was among six people killed in the helicopter crash in Semenyih. The embassy at its Twitter account said: “In memory of Tan Sri @DrJJMalaysia, a friend of the US who helped strengthen the relationship btw our two countries,” it said today.
US ambassador to Malaysia, Ambassador Joseph Yun on also extended his deep condolence on behalf of the US to those killed in the helicopter crash. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time. Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis was tirelessly dedicated to advancing Malaysia’s interests by enhancing relations with the United States, he said.
« click for more info
President Barack Obama greets Malaysian Ambassador to the U.S., Jamaluddin Jarjis, during a credentialing ceremony in the Oval Office (Wikipedia)Yun adds that Jamaluddin had strengthened the bilateral relationship between the two nations through his creativity, energy and vision.
Before the Malaysia air disasters of MH-370 and MH-17 …
Continued below the fold …
President Barack Obama Visit to Malaysia Commercial Signing Event * 28 April 2014 * Facts [pdf]
GE-AirAsia X
GE to provide 50 engines and related maintenance to power 25 new A330 aircraft for AirAsia X, the long-haul, low-fare affiliate of AirAsia Group. The deal is worth more than $1.5 billion.
U.S. content totaling 50% in the deal helps support 25,000 GE engine jobs in Cincinnati, Ohio, Durham, North Carolina, Rutland, Vermont and elsewhere in the United States as well as jobs in GE’s 150 suppliers in 34 states. Using Department of Commerce methodology, GE estimates 3,695 jobs are supported by this sale. Including this deal, parent company Air Asia has ordered over 600 GE engines, highlighting GE’s technical reliability, fuel efficiency performance, and competitive pricing.
Apostolic Nancio to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino expressed support to the Malaysian Catholic Church for their position on the “Allah” issue. That created uproar for it is tantamount to interfering in the domestic affair of Malaysia a country.
Foreign Minister, Dato Anifah Aman issued a strong statement and the Archbishop met Anifah yesterday to express apology. That should be the end of it but one Tan Sri text us to wonder why must Anifah be the one to issue the statement?
…
Is someone so overawed to get an audience with the Pope and perhaps leverage on the visit for political gain that they could not see the big picture or on-going international political game? Or is it a case of him being advised but only listen to some myopic little rascal?That is the case of meeting the Pope.
Over the years, since 2009, the mainstream media have been playing up the news everytime Prime Minister Dato Najib Tun Abdul Razak met US President Barrack Obama.
PM Najib Razak first met Obama at a Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on April 12, 2010. The media depicted it as an important significant improvement in relations. It is only the first one-on-one meeting between the Prime Minister of a small country and President of an intrusive superpower.
Then they met again at the ASEAN-APEC leaders at the ASEAN and East Asia Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia on November 18th, 2010.
« click for more info
U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greet Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor as they arrive at the opening dinner of the APEC Leaders Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii - Nov. 2011 (Jim Young/Courtesy Reuters)The media reported Washington’s appreciation towards Malaysia’s role as a progressive Islamic nation in international affairs. It must mean something to get to hear the appreciation and hope of an American President.
Joint Statement By President Obama And Prime Minister Najib Of Malaysia – April 27, 2014
- ○ Najib, staunch ally of Iran, backs Syria suspension from OIC amid criticism
○ HRW letter to PM Dato’ Sri Mohammed Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak regarding discriminatory LGBT rights policy
Malaysia’s US Policy Under Najib: Structuraland Domestic Sources of a Small State’s Strategy
Article explains Malaysia’s US policy under Prime Minister Najib. It arguesthat to the extent that there is a “shift” in Malaysia’s policy, its substance has been shaped bystructural and domestic considerations. Structurally, in the face of a fast rising China, Malaysiais compelled to keep a more balanced relationship with all the major powers. This structural push, reinforced by Obama’s “pivot,” has been nonetheless limited by a concern about the risksof entrapment, abandonment, and antagonism. Domestically, there are economic and political motivations to develop closer ties with Washington. These, however, have been counteracted bya calculation of not wanting to align too closely with America. These structural and domestic determinants together explain the smaller state’s strategy towards the superpower at a time of systemic change.
PM Najib pays tribute to Tun Razak for Malaysia-China ties – May 29, 2014
A sense of gloom felt at Azlin’s house
KAJANG: The mood at the late Datuk Azlin Alias‘ residence was gloomy as family members, friends, residence and dignitaries came to pay their respects here today.
About 300 people came to the funeral as early as 8 am for a recitation of Tahlil and Yaasin, most of them were still shocked of the incident that took place yesterday.
Among those who were present at the funeral were Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong, Wanita Umno Chief Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Malaysian National Cycling Federation deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad, Masjid Putra chief imam, Abdul Manaf Mat, Media Prima Berhad group managing director Datuk Seri Amrin Awaluddin, New Straits Times Press chief executive officer Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah and the group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid.
Malaysia helicopter crash: Najib pays tribute to Jamaluddin, Azlin