Missing copter: Selangor Umno hopes Noriah and others are safe

KLANG: Selangor Umno leaders and members are keeping their fingers crossed that Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon and the others with her are safe.

The helicopter Noriah was travelling with five others, including her husband Asmuni Abdullah went missing in Sarawak on Thursday evening.

"We are praying hard that all of them are safe," said Selangor Umno chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar.

He added that they could only pray and hope for good news at the moment.

Selangor Barisan Nasional assemblyman coordinator Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan said they were awaiting further information on the missing helicopter.

Mat Nadzari – who is currently in Sarawak – said that Selangor Umno is hoping for the best.

“We haven’t received any official confirmation so far,” added Mat Nadzari.

Noriah is a three-term Sungai Besar MP, having first won the seat when it was created in 2004.

The 52-year old lawyer retained her seat in 2013 by defeating the PAS candidate, Mohamed Salleh M Husin.

Prior to bring appointed as Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister in 2013, Noriah had served as the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister in 2008 and as the Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister in 2004

Noriah received her early education at SK Sungai Burong before continuing her secondary education at Kolej Tunku Kurshiah in Seremban.

She then studied law at the International Islamic University and graduated with honours in 1988, maintaining a practice in Sungai Besar.

Noriah has four children aged 28, 24, 21 and 19 from her two previous marriages.

Two of her older children are already married whilst the youngest two are still students.