Shortly before departing for Sarawak from Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Sungai Besar MP Noriah Kasnon had told one of her constituents that she was “flying to the clouds”.

This was revealed by one of Noriah’s constituents, Saiful Bahari Yusof, who was outside her home in Sabak Bernam today, The Star Online reported.

"Nak terbang ke mana, Datuk? (Where are you flying, Datuk?)" Saiful Bahari, an officer with the Sabak Bernam district National Unity and Integration Department, said he asked Noriah.

"Nak ke awan (I'm flying to the clouds),” the MP replied.

Saiful Bahari shared this, his last Facebook conversation with the deputy plantation industries and commodities minister, on his Facebook.

He had posed his question to one of Noriah's status updates in her Facebook that said she was heading to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

"I remember she wrote about having mixed feelings (pelbagai rasa) on her Facebook earlier.

"That was what prompted me to ask her where was she flying to. And she replied she was flying 'to the clouds’,” Saiful Bahari is quoted as saying.

"She's a very friendly and approachable leader," he said.

He also said Noriah had personally promised to attend a dinner programme hosted by his department at SMK Sungai Besar on Friday.

"The programme was supposed to be on April 26 but Datuk Noriah put it off to today (Friday, May 6) because she was busy helping in the Sarawak state election.

"She also told my superior, before she left for Sarawak, that she would try her best to be present because she didn't feel comfortable sending a representative," he added.

The Star Online also quoted Noriah’s niece who said she had been staying at the deputy minister's home to care for her youngest son, a three-year-old, since last night.

"Her other children are travelling to Sarawak. So I'm keeping her son and the maid company while keeping an eye on her house," the niece said.

Malay-daily Sinar Harian quoted Noriah’s maid, Yuliatriyanti, as saying that her employer was originally scheduled to return home from Kuching tomorrow (Saturday).

Yuliatriyanti said Noriah had, before departing to Sarawak, requested her to stay and celebrate Hari Raya in Malaysia this year.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Najib Razak had confirmed that Noriah was on board the helicopter, along with five others - her husband Asmuni Abdullah, Kuala Kangsar MP Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry secretary-general Dr Sundaran Annamalai, Noriah's bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun and Filipino pilot Rudolf Rex Ragas.

Debris from the helicopter bound for Kuching from Betong, about 250km away, were found near the Batang Lupar River this morning.