POLICE have clarified that a torpedo-shaped metal object found on the beach at Pantai Seberang Takir near Kuala Terengganu is not a weapon or unexploded ordnance.
Kuala Terengganu District Police Chief, ACP Azli Mohd Noor, confirmed that authorities were alerted at around 7:30am when a member of the public reported the discovery of a 2.7-metre-long object resembling a missile washed up on the shore.
Upon investigation by the bomb disposal unit, Azli explained that the object, which weighed approximately 70 kilograms and featured extensive wiring, was identified as a marine research device. The device, valued at an estimated RM1 million, had been abandoned at the beach by the waves.
“We found that the object is not hazardous,” Bernama reported Azli saying. “Tests confirmed that it poses no risk in terms of radiation or explosive materials. It’s simply a piece of scientific equipment.”
Azli further stated that authorities were working to identify the owner of the device. Although there were no identifiable markings to link it to any particular company, it is suspected to belong to a local university, possibly related to marine research activities.
"We are in the process of tracing the source of the device," he added. "It is likely that it was carried ashore by the tides and has no immediate connection to any ongoing military activities."
The discovery initially raised concerns given its resemblance to a missile, but police assurances have helped to allay fears of potential danger. - March 23, 2025
