Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron today advised the people against being too obsessed with the search for hidden treasures on Pulau Nangka.

He said such obsession could make them do things contrary to religion.

Idris said his interest and that of the state government in the hidden treasures on the island were based on the premise that it was no harm trying to look for the valuables.

“If we find anything, it is good. If we do not find anything, it does not matter,” he told Bernama .

He said the people’s passion for mystery stories involving hidden treasures, secret islands and sunken vessels had made the hidden treasures of Pulau Nangka a hot topic of conversation among the people.

Idris said that the real treasure was the investment coming into the state that brought economic prosperity to the people.

The state government would not derive any direct monetary benefit from the findings, if any, because it would not be able to sell the treasures, he said.

“We have regulations governing the management of artifacts. All treasures found will have to be surrendered to the relevant authorities,” he said.

Salvage company Smart Partnership International (M) Sdn Bhd reportedly found two ancient coins when looking for the hidden treasures on Pulau Nangka purportedly belonging to the Malacca sultanate.

- Bernama