The Air Accident Investigation Bureau will release an initial report on the helicopter tragedy involving Eurocopter AS350 within a month said Transports Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the report would comprise findings from an overall investigation of the tragedy that has already claimed two victims while four others are still missing.

The first body recovered by the search and rescue team yesterday was identified as that of Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister Noriah Kasnon while the second body found today has yet to be identified.

Noriah's remains were flown to Kuala Lumpur last night and laid to rest at the Batu 12 Sungai Burong Muslim cemetery today.

"The report will contain how the accident happened. There are many factors so we have to look at all issues before we can comment whether that route is safe or not.

"On that day, there were four to five other helicopters (flying the same route), some even in front and they managed to land safely," he told reporters at the Kuching Department of Civil Aviation, Kuching today.

Liow said the search and rescue operation headed by the Department of Civil Aviation would focus on an area of 2,850 sq km.

"Today's search involved an area of 875 sq km from Sungai Batang Lupar to Sri Aman," he said.

Liow said the search and rescue team had found the second body at 8.34am in Sungai Belebat which is a tributary of Sungai Batang Lupar.

"The remains have been sent to the hospital for post-mortem," he said adding that those with information about the incident can contact Sri Aman police at 08 3322121.

Noriah was travelling with her husband Asmuni Abdullah, Kuala Kangsar MP and Malaysian Palm Oil Board member Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad, ministry secretary-general Sundaran Annamalai, Noriah's bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun and the pilot captain Rudolf Rex Ragas.

The helicopter took off from Betong enroute to Kuching at 4.12pm on Thursday but lost contact with the control tower three minutes later.

- Bernama