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Treasure in Strait of Malacca? Authorities want to float sunken Portuguese ship

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Efforts are being made to retrieve sunken treasure worth US$2 million (S$2.6 million) in the Strait of Malacca, Harian Metro reported.

"The authorities in Portugal and I are determined to refloat the Flor De La Mar," said former Malacca chief minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik.

In 1511, Portuguese explorer Alfonso de Albuquerque was returning to his home country on the Flor De La Mar, which was carrying a cargo filled with treasures from the Malacca Sultanate, when it sank.

Rahim, who is the chairman of Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu, said Malaysia, Indonesia and Portugal now needed to reach an agreement to salvage the treasures.

Earlier this year, the state government of Malacca embarked on a hunt for treasure believed to be worth billions on the tiny island of Pulau Nangka, located in the Malacca Strait, 17km off the coast of Malacca. 

The treasure is believed to be from the days of the Malacca sultanate. 

Two coins were found, but tests proved they were not made of gold, but a bronze and silver mixture. 

Source: The Star

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