UMS under the spotlight again
Published on: Thursday, May 11, 2017
Kota Kinabalu: The detention of a China-registered vessel by Malaysian authorities at the behest of their Indonesian counterparts on Wednesday for stealing sunken warships has renewed speculation on whether Universiti Malaysia Sabah and other partners had been frank about their so-called salvage work in Sabah waters in January, this year.This is because the culprit is reportedly the same Chinese dredger, Chuan Hong 68, that was involved in salvage works on three Japanese World War Two-era shipwrecks in popular dive sites in Usukan, off Kota Belud.The Chuan Hong 68 was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Pengerang waters off Johor.
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MMEA Sabah and Labuan Regional Director Maritime First Admiral Zubil Mat Som confirmed to Daily Express about the vessel's detention in response to a request by Indonesian authorities."I was made to understand that the MMEA was asked to help detain the vessel by the Indonesian authorities because it had earlier escaped from custody," he said.State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said while it is still too early to be making any conclusion, news about its detention might provide fresh evidence that would call for a re-look into the Sabah case."It certainly has opened up new questions as to the credibility of the vessel. If there's new evidence or facts then obviously we will re-look into the case," he said, adding he would see how the matter develops before deciding the next action.
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According to an online report headlined "Indonesia Captures Maritime Grave Robbers", the vessel was detained by the Indonesian Navy on April 20 in waters off Natuna in Riau Islands on suspicion of illegal dredging. It was allegedly responsible for illegally scavenging the wrecks of the pre-World War II Japanese destroyer Sagiri plus passenger vessels Hiyoshi Maru and Katori Maru as well as the steamship Igara and tanker Seven Skies.
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But the vessel escaped custody soon after and fled to Malaysia where it was detained by the MMEA.Jakarta Post reported that the Chinese Government believed Chuan Hong 68 was operating under charter to a Malaysian company.A statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it had been "engaging in offshore engineering in the waters specified by the Malaysian side according to the contract."It was also reported that treasure hunters have been stealing sunken warships from Southeast Asian waters which are prized for the scrap metal value because pre-war vessels have steel that was smelted before atomic bomb testing put radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere. This made them valuable for making sensitive scientific instruments.UK's Guardian newspaper reported that the illegal scavenging of world war ships in Indonesia involved local institutions, including university and maritime authority.In late January, this year, a local company Ugeens Berjaya Enterprise, was reported to have hired the vessel to carry out research work for UMS, including toxic bauxite cargo in the sunken vessels. But other stakeholders, including divers who frequent the sites and local fishermen who had been depending on the shipwrecks for their livelihood were furious, saying they were never consulted.Masidi then instructed UMS to stop its research but it was too late as photos taken by divers showed the sites plundered beyond recognition.During a meeting with all parties involved in February, the Minister questioned the motive behind the research project."Was it necessary for you to wreck the (ship) wreck? Were you trying to find something else other than just research?" he had said.He also pointed out during the meeting that the public was suspicious about the project, especially over the involvement of the China-registered vessel."That just creates a whole different perception in public," he reportedly said.The university said it was never involved in the actual salvaging operation.Both parties were said to have obtained salvaging permit from the State Marine Department, who did not object, and Sabah Museum Department. But the museum explained that the permit issued was only for exploration, not removal of any artifacts or the wrecks.Masidi said the issue had left the authorities "red-faced" and later in the last State Assembly sitting, he conceded that Sabah had lost something of high tourism value.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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