Malaysian media reported that illegal miners were believed to have targeted HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales, two ships sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1941 days after the Pearl Harbor attack.
Artillery shells seized by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in waters east of Johor. Photo: AP
A total of 842 sailors died and the shipwrecks off the central Malaysian state of Pahang are considered war graves. Fishermen and divers alerted authorities after spotting a foreign vessel near the area last month.
Maritime authorities seized the barge, registered in Fuzhou, China, on Sunday for anchoring without a permit off the southern state of Johor. Upon investigation, they found piles of scrap metal and shells believed to be from World War II on board.
A thorough search on Tuesday found 100 more shells of various sizes, the agency said, which were taken away by the police bomb disposal unit to be detonated.
The National Museum of the Royal Navy said last week it was “distressed and concerned by the apparent sabotage for personal gain”. Materials from the two warships are valuable and could be melted down for use in the manufacture of sensitive scientific and medical equipment.
The agency said there were 32 crew members on the barge – 21 Chinese, 10 Bangladeshis and one Malaysian.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters that China had asked Malaysia to “handle the case fairly in accordance with the law.” She said the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens must be protected, and called on Malaysia to keep Beijing informed of the progress of the investigation.
Mai Van (according to AP)
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