The South China Morning Post (SCMP) quoted the official, who is familiar with the case, as saying Low was “definitely not” in China.
“Any claim that he has been hiding in the mainland is irresponsible,” the official told the Hong Kong daily.
Yesterday, SCMP quoted security sources as saying that Low was believed to have travelled to China by car or private jet.
Low, who is wanted by Malaysian authorities in connection with the 1MDB scandal, had been hiding in Macau amid intensified efforts for his arrest.
He is accused of corruption, bribery and money laundering by law enforcement agencies in several countries.
Police said they had received an email from their counterparts in Macau on July 9 confirming that Low had left the gaming hub. However, they said they did not know where Low had gone.
“It is hard to trace him as he is believed to be using multiple passports,” Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said.
The Pakatan Harapan government has cancelled Low’s Malaysian passport but he is believed to hold a passport from the tiny Caribbean island nation of St Kitts and Nevis.
US prosecutors have alleged that US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB by high-level officials of the fund and their associates.
The US Department of Justice has filed several lawsuits to claim about US$1.7 billion in assets believed to have been stolen from 1MDB, including a Picasso painting, jewellery and a US$265 million yacht.
Malaysia asks Macau to detain financier Jho Low after he flees HK