IPOH: The owner of the helicopter that picked up 36 packets of "nasi ganja" from Ipoh and delivered them to Kuala Lumpur said the trip was made in a proper manner.

       Free Malaysia Today (FMT) reported that the owner, Mohamed Raffe Chekku, said the helicopter landed at Padang Ipoh with all the necessary papers in order.

       He also told FMT that he had instructed his lawyers to look into the matter, and would cooperate fully with any investigation.

       “I have nothing much to say except that it was a quick pick-up,” he added.

       Mohamed Raffe found himself in the spotlight after a video went viral of the Bell 505 helicopter landing at the field on Friday (July 23) morning.

       Many people had questioned whether or not the flight was authorised by the relevant authorities, given the movement restrictions currently in place.

       FMT also reported that the helicopter was also leased by its owner to Systematic Air Services (SAS).

       However, SAS chief executive officer Ida Adora Ismail said in a statement that none of its crew was involved in picking up the food.

       While SAS confirmed the leasing agreement, the Ipoh flight was a private one made by the owner and his passenger from Subang airport to Ipoh and back.

       On Sunday (July 25), the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) launched an investigation into the matter.

       CAAM CEO Chester Voo said an initial investigation found that the helicopter departed at 9.08am on Friday from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for Ipoh and returned to Subang at 11.02am the same day.

       “CAAM has initiated an immediate investigation to determine whether the helicopter breached any regulation as stated by the Malaysian Civil Aviation Regulation 2016, and the Civil Aviation Directives,” he added.