Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub-Editor: Lee Bullen,  Agency: Asia Wire Report

A 35-year-old pilot who lost his job during the COVID-19 lockdown has been found dead below his apartment after apparently killing himself.

The former pilot, who used to work for a low-cost airline prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, was found dead in the township of Kinrara in the western Malaysian state of Selangor on 3rd August.

According to news site Bernama, the man apparently jumped from his high-rise flat at around 3pm.

Serdang district police spokesperson Ismadi Borhan said that they did not find anything suspicious at the scene to suggest anyone else was involved in the pilot’s death,

In a report by Free Malaysia Today, the 35-year-old victim was identified as Sanjiv Daevin Arunasalam.

Friends and family said that the pilot lost his job two months ago during the country’s Movement Control Order (MCO).

Reports said that the airline, company not disclosed, cut back around 100 pilots in March as countries around the world imposed travel bans.

Borhan said: “We learned that the victim lost his job two months ago and has been in a distressed state since.

“The inability to cope with his stress led to his decision to jump from his condo building.”

The victim’s friend, musician Eddie Zachariah, said that he was told by Arunasalam’s father that he did not have any outstanding debts prior to his death.

Arunasalam would have celebrated his 36th birthday on 12th August.

The pilot used to play keyboard, violin, bass, guitar, and drums for the local fusion band Aseana Percussion Unit (APU).

Band leader Edwin Nathaniel told Free Malaysia Today that Arunasalam used to teach music before training to become a pilot.

The investigation is ongoing.

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