The Skilled Pilot, Heroic Bodyguard And Four Other Victims Of The Kajang Crash
We take a look at the stories of the six people onboard the ill-fated helicopter that crashed in Semenyih, Kajang on 4 April 2015.
By Hew Lee Yee — 07 Apr 2015, 05:40 PM
On the fateful evening of 4 April 2015 at 4.55pm, a helicopter carrying 6 including the pilot crashed in Semenyih, Kajang with no survivors. We take a look at those onboard said ill-fated helicopter:
1. Captain Cliff Fournier, owner of Chempaka Aviation, an excellent pilot and father who was described to be a charitable man and always with a positive and can-do attitude
Besides being the longtime pilot for IGB Corp founder Datuk Seri Robert Tan and his family, Fournier had also flown for the Sultan of Selangor, DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah as well as tycoon Tan Sri Syed Yusof Syed Nasir, who had shared with a local news daily his fond memories of Fournier,
“He was a darn good pilot... very experienced. I’ve flown with him many times. He has never said no. He was always there when we needed him. During the floods in Kelantan, he helped supply aid to unreachable areas with his helicopter,” Syed Yusof recounted.
malaysiandigest.com
On Facebook -- friends and family continue to share memories, pictures and sentiments of Fournier.
""No" was not part of your vocabulary. Somehow you never reach your limit. Always reaching for something better to make a difference," said Jason DeBlassio in a post.
"I would want to tell you so many things Cliff Fournier, yet I am speechless. Gone too early my friend," said Francisco Rosas on Facebook.
malaysiandigest.com
@Khairykj agreed . If he could not have saved it . Don't think anyone could have .
— hans isaac (@hansisaacactor) April 5, 2015
"He had a certain charisma about him. Not just with his kids and his wife but as he met people he just always kept your interest," said Chris Webb, a pilot with Minnesota Helicopters. "One of the guys who was always very energizing to be around, very positive influence." Webb called Fournier a gentle giant, always calm and cool, and one heck of a pilot.
Fournier leaves behind his wife Maria as well as four children, Sasha Annand, 11, Alicia Nicole, nine, Nina Kali, five, and Kristopher.
malaysiandigest.com
2. Private Secretary in PM's Office, Datuk Seri Azlin Alias, a trusted confidant of Najib as well as a dedicated and loyal man who gave up the private sector to serve the government
The prime minister's aide Datuk Seri Azlim Alias (left) and Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis pictured earlier on 4 April 2015.
Image via The Malaysian InsiderHe was the Prime Minister's Department Economics Division director before being appointed chief private secretary to the Prime Minister effective March 10, 2014.
Azlin was once voted as "the best research analyst" in 2003 by The Edge, and team member for the research team at Avenue Securities which was voted as the "Most Improved Local Research House" and "Second Best Local Research House" by The Edge Weekly in 2004.
Azlin leaves behind wife Datin Seri Azlina Mahmad and three children, two boys and a girl.
bernama.com
The prime minister's aide Datuk Seri Azlim Alias (left) and Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis pictured earlier on 4 April 2015.
Image via Sir Azri's Twitter"Personally he had agreed to leave the corporate sector to serve the government as his national service," Najib said adding that Azlin had worked with dedication, trust and got along well with everyone.
"His death will be a great loss for me," added Najib.
bernama.com
3. Politician and Rompin MP Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis, an influential man who played a major role in strengthening Malaysia's ties with the US
Former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Jamaluddin was a good man, Bernama reported. He said Jamaluddin worked for him in the Prime Minister's Office, and his work and contribution to the country would be remembered.
Abdullah was among many that attended the funeral. Also present was former minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who remembered Jamaluddin as a cheerful and generous person.
themalaysianinsider.com
In 2009, Jamaluddin was appointed Malaysian ambassador to the US and had helped enhance the relationship between the United States and Malaysia.
His four-year tenure in Washington had placed Malaysia-US ties at the highest level.
Born in Pekan, Pahang on May 25, 1951, Jamaluddin leaves behind wife Puan Sri Dr Kalsom Ismail, three daughters and a son.
themalaysianinsider.com
4. Razkan Seran, 32-year-old bodyguard of Jamaluddin Jarjis who served his duty until his death, found with his arm around and protecting his employer, Jarjis
Setinurafeni Andu will always be proud of her police commando husband Kpl Razkan Seran for doing his job until the end of his life as bodyguard to Tan Sri Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis. Razkan was found with his arm around the Rompin MP by rescuers at the scene of the crash.
"A member of the forensic team saluted me when I arrived to identify Razkan at the mortuary. I was surprised. He then told me that my husband did his job until the very end in guarding Jamaluddin. He was found with his arm around Jamaluddin,’’ said 30-year-old Setinurafeni in an interview on Monday at her family home in Kg Sg Damit in Tuaran about 40km from here.
"I feel good and proud that Razkan did his job until the very end. Even when his body bag was opened I could see his hand with his favourite bracelet. I knew it was him,’’ added the mother of two children - Ahmad Qais, 2, and Nur Aqilah Darwisyah, 6.
Razkan joined the police force in 2003 and served with the Federal Reserve Unit before joining the Unit Tindakan Khas (Special Action Force) in 2008, and was assigned as bodyguard to Jamaluddin in 2013.
5. Kedah businessman and family man Datuk Robert Tan Huat Seang, in an eerie coincidence was to celebrate his 59th birthday the day after the crash
The tragic death of Datuk Tan Huat Seang could not have come at a most unfortunate time as he was supposed to be celebrating his 59th birthday today and his demise was during the symbolic Qing Ming period (Tomb Sweeping Day).
According to his friends, before Tan's death on April 4, his wife had advised him to cancel his plans as he was due to celebrate his birthday today (April 5).
“The late Datuk Tan is a very low profile person who does not like publicity. He was always hard at work,” said a family friend who declined to be named.
themalaymailonline.com
He was also a charitable man who contributed generously to charity and also took part in community activities.
6. The lone woman onboard, believed to be Aidana Baizieva, a Kyrgyzstani and an employee of Chempaka Aviation is waiting to be positively identified by her younger sister
A woman believed to be Baizieva’s sister at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital mortuary on April 6.
Image via Malaysian DigestThe identity of the last victim of the tragic helicopter crash in Semenyih, Aidana Baizieva, has yet to be confirmed and is currently undergoing forensic investigation. “We can confirm that Aidana Baizieva is a citizen of Kyrgyzstan,” the representative said according to reports.
Baizieva who was believed to be killed in the Semenyih crash was earlier reported to be the helicopter’s co-pilot but later confirmed to be an employee of Chempaka Aviation.
malaysiandigest.com
A woman, believed to be Aidana Baizieva's sister, has arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s mortuary to assist with investigations.
“Records showed that she had been in Malaysia for at least a year,” she said, declining to reveal more.