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Published: Sunday August 16, 2009 MYT 3:37:00 PM
Updated: Sunday August 16, 2009 MYT 7:37:37 PM

Helicopter with DPM makes emergency landing; DPM safe (Update)

By MUGUNTAN VANAR and RUBEN SARIO

KOTA KINABALU: A Royal Malaysian Air Force Nuri helicopter with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on board made an emergency landing near the Mimpian Jadi Resort in Tuaran during bad weather conditions.

Muhyiddin who was with 10 other passengers including Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin and four air force personnel, were returning from northern Kudat to the state capital in the 2.30pm incident Sunday.

''The pilot is good, he made a right decision to land, Muhyiddin later told reporters at the VIP lounge at the Kota Kinabalu airport after cancelling his scheduled opening of the Penampang Umno division meeting.

''We were delayed in Kudat by about two-hours and it was bad weather all the way, he said, adding that he had spoken to Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman Penampang Umno division chief Datuk John Ambrose on his inability to attend.

He said he was not shaken by the incident as they were all in good hands of the pilot.

The entourage took off at about 1.45pm from Kudat after officially opening the Umno division meeting there and were heading back to Kota Kinabalu for the Penampang meeting.

The entourage then took a drive back from Tuaran to Kota Kinabalu, about 35kms here. Muhyiddin left for Kuala Lumpur at 4.30pm.