Global Courant 2023-05-29 14:35:00
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s maritime authorities said on Monday that gun shells believed to be from World War II were found on a China-registered bulk carrier ship.
The discovery comes amid reports this month that scavengers have targeted two British World War II wrecks off the coast of Malaysia – HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse – sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1941, just three days after the devastating attack on Pearl Haven in Hawaii.
Following reports of the illegal salvage activity, Britain’s National Museum of the Royal Navy said last week it was “disturbed and concerned about the apparent vandalism for personal gain” of the two wrecks.
The Defense Ministry condemned the “desecration” of maritime military graves, the BBC said on Saturday.
A ship registered in Fuzhou, China with 32 crew members on board failed to produce anchor permits during a routine inspection in the waters off Malaysia’s southern state of Johor on Sunday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said.
The authorities found scrap metal and cannon shells on the ship during further checks.
The shells may be linked to a separate police seizure at a Johor jetty last week of multiple unexploded World War II artillery pieces.
Authorities believe those may have been scavenged from HMS Prince of Wales, the MMEA said, adding that it was working with Malaysia’s National Heritage Department and other agencies to identify the ammunition found. REUTERS
