KUALA LUMPUR: The government will provide all necessary assistance and support to the families of the five victims killed in a helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, Sarawak.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave the assurance in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Sept 9).
Anwar said he was deeply saddened by the crash involving a Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter carrying four Health Ministry personnel and a pilot on Tuesday (Sept 8) afternoon.
"My thoughts and prayers, as well as (my wife) Azizah’s, are with the families of all the victims as they go through this extremely difficult time.
"May they be given strength and resilience. I urge everyone to give the families space and refrain from speculation while awaiting verified information from the authorities," he said.
Yesterday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) said a BO-105 helicopter carrying five people, including the pilot, crashed near the Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Airport (STOLport) in Ulu Baram, 929km from Kuching.
The Health Ministry also confirmed that the helicopter, which departed from Miri, was carrying a medical officer, an assistant medical officer and two nurses on official duty, in addition to the pilot.
Among the victims identified by their families were Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 31, and Dr Ainul Baraah Kamarudin, 32. – Bernama
