KANGAR: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said he was in utter shock upon learning on the tragic death of Datuk Azlin Alias as he had just spoken to the latter two hours before the Semenyih helicopter crash tragedy.
Wahid said he had spoken to the principal private secretary to Prime Minister on the phone until 2.40pm to confirm on few matters pertaining to Datuk Seri Najib Razak's schedule and they were supposed to get back on the matter today (Monday).
"The news came as a shock to me as I just spoke to him (Azlin) on work-related matters few hours before the helicopter was involved in the crash.
"It was also a huge blow to me upon learning that the tragedy had also claimed the life of Rompin member of Parliament Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis and four others.
"All of us were close. I just met Jamaluddin last Friday where we discussed on an Umno programme which is slated to be held on Apr 12," he said in a press conference after the 1Malaysia Training Sceme (SL1M) closing ceremony here yesterday.
Wahid, in extending his condolences to the victims' family, said the country had lost two people who had made huge contributions towards the nation development.
Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man, who closed the SL1M programme, also expressed his condolences to the family members of those perished in the tragedy.
He said the losses were deeply felt by many and he prayed that the family members would be given the strength to carry on.
"It was a very shocking and sorrowful incident to all of us.
"As for the Muslim victims, may their souls be placed among the righteous," he said.
Also present at the ceremony, which drew about 3,000 participants was Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq.
It was reported that the ill-fated helicopter exploded mid-air and crashed in the fringes of a jungle near Kampung Sungai Pening at about 4.45pm on Saturday.
Four others killed in the crash were businessman Datuk Tan Huat Seng, the helicopter's pilot Captain Clifford Fournier, operations assistant Aidana Baizieva and Jamaluddin's body guard Razakan Seran.
The helicopter was travelling back from Pekan to Subang after the victims attended the wedding reception of Najib's daughter, Nooryana Najwa.