Ahmad Zahid posted on Twitter before noon that the third body had been found in Lingga.

Arrangements were being made to fly the remains to Kuching district police headquarters. He said he was waiting at Kuching Hospital mortuary for the arrival of the body.

Earlier today a body believed to be of a second victim was found in the same area and flown to Kuching for post-mortem examination.

On Friday, the body of federal minister for plantation industries and commodities, Noriah Kasnon, was found at the riverbank of Batang Lupar.

Five others were on board the Hornbill Skyways Eurocopter aircraft: her husband Asmuni Abdullah; ministry secretary-general Sundaran Annamalai; Kuala Kangsar MP Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, who is chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board; Noriah’s personal bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun; and the pilot, Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas.

The AS350 helicopter departed from Betong at 4.12pm on Thursday, bound for Kuching, and was reported missing a few minutes later. Some parts of the helicopter were recovered near Sungai Batang Lupar, Sebuyau yesterday.