From stowaways to ghosts: Extraordinary tales from Malaysian pioneering seafarers
SEAFARERS’ experiences are anything but common, ranging from the perfectly logical to the mythical and, sometimes, even the supernatural, which is perhaps why listening to an old sailor tell a story can so easily transport you to another time and place.
Stories of the Seas presents extraordinary tales from Malaysian pioneering seafarers. These experiences range from the logical to the mythical and supernatural, providing a glimpse into Malaysia's maritime history. Datuk (Dr) Capt Ahmad Sufian and Captain Rasol Puteh have arranged and compiled accounts from former officers and engineers of the Malaysia International Shipping Corporation (MISC) between the 1970s and 1980s.
Captain Loo Eng Chuan recounts the discovery of two stowaways on board the M.T. Bunga Cenderawasih in Algeria in 1993. These Algerian teenagers, aged 21 and 23, managed to enter the ship unnoticed, raising questions about their motivations for boarding a foreign vessel.
Another intriguing account comes from Sufian himself, who recalls an incident in 1973 on the M.V. Bunga Orkid when a woman cleaning the tanks claimed to have seen a ghost in the cargo hold. Upon investigation, he discovered that her crewmates were disturbed by an apparition of a Japanese woman carrying a baby, walking along the corridor and staircase at night.
Senior electrician Sivabalan Ponniah shares a more grounded story. In March 1975, during a stop in Tawau, the chief steward bought cheap crabs at a local market. Upon returning to the ship, he found that the crabs were no longer there. He later learned about the sinking of the Nunukan Express No. 1, a ferry that claimed 38 lives in March 1975.
The rapid decomposition of the victims' bodies in the warm waters led to a drop in crab prices, which prompted the steward to realize the connection between the cheap crabs and the tragic events.
These stories, collected by Sufian and Rasol, preserve a unique part of Malaysia's maritime history. They encompass the extraordinary and the ordinary, offering a personal record of life at sea during the MISC's earlier decades.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
