KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — The US Embassy here today lowered its flag to half-mast as homage to Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis, the former Malaysian envoy who was killed in a helicopter crash yesterday.

The embassy posted an image of the flag on its Twitter account, in a post that called the late Jamaluddin a “friend of the US”.

Earlier, US Ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Y. Yun had lauded Jamaluddin’s efforts in fostering ties between the two nations when the latter had been special envoy to the country from 2009 and 2012.

“The strengthening of our bilateral relationship owes much to his creativity, energy and vision. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time,” Yun said on the embassy website.

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Jamaluddin was killed with five others including the prime minister’s private chief secretary Datuk Azlin Alias when the helicopter they had been travelling in crashed in Semenyih.

According to information provided by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the helicopter was en route from Kuantan to Sungai Besi when it crashed at approximately 4.55pm yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has since ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.

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