Pulau Nangka, Pulau Besar and St Paul’s Hill form Sultan’s Treasuries, says expert

MALACCA: Pulau Nangka, Pulau Besar and St Paul’s Hill in Bandar Hilir here are believed to be areas where treasure was kept during the rule of the Malacca Sultanate.

Malaysian Institute of Patriotism and Historical Studies chairman Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Jamil Mukmin said the sultanate was believed to have kept the treasure in the three areas to prevent them from being seized if Malacca fell.

However, he said there was no proof currently showing there was treasure in the Pulau Besar and St Paul’s Hill areas except the findings of porcelain artefacts in the Bandar Hilir area near St Paul’s Hill other than the search for treasure being focused in the three areas.

“The possibility of treasure on Pulau Nangka is there, based on the history of trade, studies carried out and the preparedness of the state government to buy the island from a woman in 1997 and placing it under the Malacca Museum Corporation (Perzim).

“But the effort to search for the treasure is difficult due to several factors including the geography of the island. The effort of the state government to trace the treasure is correct but I suggest more experts be included in the effort,” he told a media conference, here, Wednesday.

To a question, Mohd Jamil, the ex-general manager of Perzim between 1997 and 2000, said based on history, the sultanate was believed to have hoarded gold in the forms of coins and decorative items such as trays and statues presented by foreign nations.

He said, like present time governments, it was important for the Malacca Malay sultanate to keep gold as reserves based on economic factors. And, as a government whose economy was expanding prolifically, it was important for the sultanate to keep gold for the stability of its economy. – BERNAMA