Sarawak police has denied claims that the helicopter that went missing in the state had made an emergency landing and is now safe.

"There are many news about the aircraft having been found but the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) confirmed that it did not detect the aircraft landing in Sarawak," Sarawak police commissioner Muhammad Sabtu Osman told a hurriedly put together press conference in Kuching last night.

Some Chinese newspapers had earlier reported that the helicopter had made an emergency landing in Sri Aman.

Muhammad Sabtu said police have not been able to track the location and movement of the helicopter tonight; its operations will resume at 6 in the morning.

"We cannot detect the location of the aircraft tonight and will arrange (search and rescue operations) at 6am. At least one hundred personnel will be deployed," he added.

Muhammad Sabtu said the helicopter took off from Betong at 4.12pm and disappeared from radar at 4.32pm.

He added that there was no information from DCA on whether any distress signal was sent out by the helicopter.

Confirming that there are six people on board, including the pilot and a personal bodyguard, Muhammad Sabtu, however, said he could not reveal the identity of the rest.

"As for the passengers, I cannot confirm. Once we get the confirmation, we will reveal the identity of the passengers," he said.

The commissioner said preparations are already being made for mass mobilisation in search of the aircraft.

Muhammad Sabtu said search efforts will begin in Sri Aman, Simunjan, and stretching to the point of origin in Betong.

He said apart from the police, the DCA, the military, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will be cooperating in the search operations.