KUCHING: The family members of Plantation Industries and Commodities secretary-general Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai have departed for Kuching today.
They reached Kuching about 8.45am via a Malindo Air flight.
It was learnt that they have been taken to a location yet to be determined following the case involving the missing Airbus AS350 helicopter, which was carrying Sundaran and five others.
The others on the helicopter included Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon and Kuala Kangsar member of parliament Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad.
Efforts to interview the family members were unsuccessful.
They were seen going into a vehicle belonging to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board.
A Harian Metro reporter who shared the same flight with the family members said the family members appeared to be in shock over the incident.
The helicopter en route to Kuching from Betong had disappeared off radar about 20 minutes after it had departed Betong. It was last detected in Triso, located within the Sri Aman division.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today announced that some debris had been found, and that search and rescue works were still ongoing.