KUCHING: Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem has called on all Sarawakians to pray for the safety of the people on board of a helicopter which went missing while heading to Kuching from Betong.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office today, Adenan will join Muslims to perform the Friday prayer followed by the "solat hajat" (special prayer) at the Kuching Divisional Mosque here.
"The Chief Minister today expressed deep concern for the safety and fate of the people on board of the helicopter that went missing on its way from Betong to Kuching late yesterday afternoon.
"Today, the Chief Minister will be joining Muslims at the Kuching Divisional Mosque to perform Friday prayers as well as Solat Hajat to petition for the safety of those on-board.
"He has urged all Sarawakians statewide to pray for those on-board," said the statement.
Among those believed to be on board on the AS350/RPC6828 helicopter include Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon; Kuala Kangsar Member of Parliament Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, who is also the Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman, and the ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai.
Others believed to be on board of the helicopter, which had departed from Betong at 4.12pm, were Noriah's husband Asmuni Abdullah, her bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun and pilot Rudolf Rex Ragas.