Drying river reveals sunken ship

PEKAN: The receding water level of Sungai Pahang due to the dry weather brought on by the El Nino phenomenon has uncovered what is claimed to be a British merchant vessel that sank under mysterious circumstances some 100 years ago.

Villagers of Kampung Tanjung in Paloh Hinai, near here, noticed the emergence of the vessel over the past month, said Kampung Paloh Hinau Development and Security Committee chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.
"The story of the shipwreck is popular among the villagers, having been handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation.
"It is said that the vessel sank due to the arrogant attitude of the captain and after the 'spirits' were disturbed," he told reporters.
Abdul Rashid said it was only recently that the villagers approached the vessel to take photographs as they had been frightened by the stories narrated over time.
The vessel had a funnel, anchor rope, propeller and engine combustion chamber characteristic of ships of the 1900s, he said.
Abdul Rashid said he hoped that the history of the vessel would be compiled if it actually was the British merchant vessel that sank 100 years ago. – Bernama