PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek (pic) probably owes his life to Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.

Shabery was supposed to be on the ill-fated Eurocopter that went missing on Thursday but Alfred Jabu suddenly decided to put the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister in another helicopter.

Just before boarding the helicopter in Spaoh, Alfred Jabu pulled Shabery by the hand and ushered him to another helicopter to Kuching.

“At the last minute, he made arrangements for me to get on another helicopter. I just followed Alfred as he held my hand, led me to the helicopter and even fastened the seat belt for me.

“As he closed the door, Alfred told me like a father would to a son: ‘It is my responsibility, although I can’t travel with you’,” Shabery said yesterday.

Earlier in the day, Shabery travelled by road to Tanjung Bijat from Kuching and went on a helicopter ride together with Alfred Jabu from Tanjung Bijat to Spaoh.

“There were two helicopters on standby to take us back to Kuching. Instead of putting me in the Eurocopter, Alfred led me to the other helicopter.”

Shabery said the weather was bad as it was raining heavily in certain areas from Spaoh to Kuching.

“Our pilot had to avoid the bad patches throughout that 40-minute journey.

“When I heard the news about that helicopter which I was supposed to board, I could only think of Alfred.

“I am grateful to him for making that decision for me.

“At the same time, I feel sad because my friends were in the helicopter that crashed,” he added.