Noriah’s private secretary Abidin Supardi told reporters it was her remains after paying his respects at the Sarawak General Hospital here, Bernama reported.

Prime Minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim  also paid their respects to the former  Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Noriah’s body was discovered along Sungai Batang Lupar in Sebuyau at noon today by search and rescue personnel.

Noriah was the Barisan Nasional MP for Sungai Besar in Selangor, having won the constituency in the last three general elections – 2004, 2008 and 2013.

She first served the government as parliamentary secretary to the Information Ministry from 2004 to 2008, following which she was promoted to deputy minister of  the Women, Family and Community Development ministry in the Cabinet of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

After Najib Razak took over as prime minister in April 2009, Noriah was appointed deputy minister in the Energy, Green Technology and Water ministry.

In 2012, Noriah returned to the Women, Family and Community Development ministry to serve as deputy minister again.

After the 2013 General Election, she was moved to the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

She received her legal qualification from Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia in 1988.

Born in Tanjung Karang, Noriah leaves behind four children, two boys and two girls.

Parts of the Eurocopter, which went missing enroute to Kuching from Betong yesterday evening, were found at Sg Batang Sadong in Simunjan earlier today.

Noriah was among six people aboard the helicopter.

The other five were Noriah’s husband Asmuni Abdullah, Noriah’s bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun, the Ministry secretary-general Sundaran Annamalai, Kuala Kangsar MP  Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad, and Filipino pilot Rudolf Rex Ragas.