A helicopter crash in Selangor, south of Kuala Lumpur, has killed all six people aboard including a former cabinet minister and key political ally of Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak.

The aircraft carrying Jamaluddin Jarjis, a lawmaker and a senior member of Mr Najib's political party UMNO, crashed into a rubber plantation in the town of Semenyih.

Other passengers aboard were the prime minister's chief-of-staff Azlin Alias, Kedah businessman Robert Tan, pilot and Chempaka Aviation owner Cliff Fournier, co-pilot Ajdiana Baiziera and a bodyguard named only as Raskan.

Speaking to reporters in Semenyih, Prime Minister Najib paid tribute to the victims.

"This comes as a great loss to me and my family because Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis had been close to me since our university days," he said.

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He said the same went for Azlin Alias, his private secretary and office chief-of-staff.

"Azlin agreed to leave his corporate job to serve the country and government," he said.

"He was very close to me and this is a big loss.

"I hope both their families are strong in facing this tragedy. I will pray for them."

Malaysian home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi joined Mr Najib at the media conference, and told The Star newspaper earlier in the evening that Mr Jamaluddin, the parliamentary member of Rompin, was aboard the aircraft.

"We are still gathering information on the crash," he said.

"The police are working with the fire and rescue department."

An eyewitness told Malaysia's official Bernama news agency that the helicopter "exploded in mid-air" during heavy rain at around 4:50pm local time.

"Then, the debris, tail and blades were thrown all over the place," the eyewitness, who was not named, was quoted as saying.

Media reports say the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department confirms that all six bodies have been found.

As well as his role as the MP for Rompin, Jamaluddin Jarjis was the chairman of PR1MA, the 1Malaysia People's Housing Corporation, and was a former special envoy to the United States, science and technology minister, and second minister of finance.

The victims were believed to be returning from the wedding reception of the prime minister's daughter.

The prime minister has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the crash.

AFP/ABC