Seven people, including a state assistant minister, on board a Bell helicopter which went missing in the interior highlands of northern Sarawak, have not been located as at 4pm today.

This development is contrary to earlier media reports this morning that the group were reported to be safe.

According to Transport Minister Chan Kong Choy, search and rescue operation have been intensified with three rescue centres being set up in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Miri.

However sources in Sarawak say that search-and-rescue operation has been called off until tomorrow morning due to failing light.

Conflicting report

Earlier today, a state government spokesperson said the group have been located and that the pilot had decided to land in a remote location after encountering inclement weather at around noon yesterday. They could not make contact with the air traffic control.

The seven were State Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Dr Judson Tagal (photo right), Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (Sesco) chief executive officer Roger Wong, businessman Marcus Raja, Padawan Municipal Council chairperson Lawrence Th'ng and Sesco engineers Jason Eng and Ling Tian Ho.

The helicopter was piloted by one 'Captain Shamsudin'.

According to a Bernama report, the seven were found at a longhouse in Kampung Pak Rumpai near the Malaysian-Indonesian border.

Aerial mapping

The helicopter which took off from Bario at about 12.15pm lost contact with the air traffic control approximately 15 minutes later. The seven were on their way to Ba' Kelalan to conduct aerial mapping for a telecommunications project.

One news report said Judson's team was part of a two-helicopter party that left Bario. The first had landed safely.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported earlier that the search and rescue mission resumed at first light today. It involved the police air wing unit, air force, Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the General Operations Force.

Judson, who is the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) secretary-general, is also the two-term Ba' Kelalan state assemblyperson.

His elder brother and former Bukit Mas MP Mutang Tagal said Judson's family members have been keeping vigil and praying for his safe return at their residence in Kuching.