Jamaluddin Elevated US-Malaysia Ties - John Kerry

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry said the late Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis' dedication in promoting US-Malaysia partnership would pay dividends for years to come. He said this would be the case as the two countries continued to jointly develop efforts towards economic, security and educational growth. Kerry noted that Jamaluddin, who was among six people killed in a helicopter crash in Semenyih, Selangor on Saturday, spent 2009-2012 as Malaysia's envoy to the US and focused on taking bilateral relations to new levels of cooperation. "Returning to Kuala Lumpur after completing his time as ambassador, he remained a strong and effective advocate for our partnership," he said in his condolence message issued by the US State Department. He extended his deepest condolences to the family and friends of those on board the ill-fated helicopter. "My thoughts and prayers are with all Malaysians at this very difficult time," he added. Besides Jamaluddin who was Rompin member of parliament and PR1MA Corporation Malaysia (PR1MA) chairman, others on the helicopter included Prime Minister Najib Razak's chief private secretary Azlin Alias. Also killed in the crash were the pilot, Capt Clifford William Fournier, operations assistant Aidana Baizieva, Jamaluddin's bodyguard Razakan Seran and Tan Huat Seang, a businessman from Kedah. -- BERNAMA