The late Datuk Tan Huat Seang, the businessman who was killed along with five others in the helicopter crash in Semenyih yesterday, was to celebrate his 59th birthday today, said his friend Datuk Syed Sobri Syed Hashim.

When met at Tan's house in Taman Golf here today, Syed Sobri, who is chairman of Majunaka Eco Energy Sdn Bhd, said Tan's wife, Yen(full name not available), had tried to stop her husband from attending the wedding reception of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's daughter in Pekan yesterday.

"The reason she tried to stop him was because she had wanted to celebrate his birthday with him," said Syed Sobri, who is also former Kuala Nerang assemblyman.

However, Tan, who headed the SP Baiduri Sdn housing company, accepted the invitation from PR1MA Corporation Chairman Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis, to attend the wedding.

Tan was due back in Alor Setar today.

Jamaluddin and the principal private secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Azlin Alias were also killed in the tragedy.

Syarikat SP Baiduri is involved in the construction of more than 1,000 units of various types of houses under the 1Malaysia People's Housing Scheme Programme (PR1MA) in Sungai Petani.

Meanwhile, former member of parliament for Langkawi, Datuk Abu Bakar Taib, who visited Tan's home today, described him as a hard-working man who liked to joke.

"He was not from a rich family, but he succeeded because he was hardworking," he said.

Abu Bakar said he and his family were still shocked by the tragedy that had befallen his friend, whom he would visit during Chinese New Year and had been friends since the 80s.

"All I can say is that I am very shocked with the news. I always reminded my children to emulate his determination in achieving success," he said.

Tan's remains are to be brought to the Memorial Park in Nilai for cremation before his ashes are taken back to his home in Taman Golf tonight.

Known as a low-profile businessman who did not like publicity, Tan has four children, two boys and two girls.