Melaka state govt warns treasure hunters against disturbing Kota Syahbandar excavation site

via Malay Mail 15 April 2021: Looting risk at the shipwreck site that was just excavated.

The state government has warned treasure hunters against disturbing the site in Kota Syahbandar, Pulau Melaka here where pieces of wood believed from a merchant ship in the time of the Melaka Sultanate were found during an archaeological dig recently.

State Tourism, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis said this was because the site was under the National Heritage Act and state’s jurisdiction and trespassers could be prosecuted.

“So, we ask these people (treasure hunters) not to enter the area. After all, it is dangerous to do any digging there and if anything happens, who wants to be held responsible?” he told reporters after opening the Ramadan Buffet in conjunction with the Melakan Visit Melaka campaign here Wednesday night.

On the discovery of the pieces of wood estimated to be more than 500 years, Muhammad Jailani said the state government had allocated RM100,000 as an emergency fund to enable excavation work to be carried out immediately.

Source: Melaka state govt warns treasure hunters against disturbing Kota Syahbandar excavation site | Malaysia | Malay Mail