PORT KLANG: Superyacht Equanimity will not be open for public viewing in order to maintain its value and safeguard its condition, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Saturday (Aug 11).
He said the ship would be sold off as soon as possible as the maintenance costs alone would come to about RM2 million (US$489,600) a month.
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“We have to keep the yacht in good condition. But if you allow hundreds of people to come and view the yacht then it might damage the yacht.
“Buyers will not want to buy a ship that is exhibited like that," Dr Mahathir told reporters after conducting an inspection of the vessel - estimated to be worth RM1 billion - docked at the Boustead Cruise Centre.
“ It’s super luxurious ... Everything you can think of is there and many things that you don’t think about are also there” That’s how 93 year old Dr Mahathir describes the Equanimity . He’s given a 45 min tour of USD250 mil yacht earlier on Saturday . pic.twitter.com/7lSn0kBpKp — Melissa Goh (@MelGohCNA) August 11, 2018
The superyacht, linked to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, arrived in Malaysia on Aug 7 after being handed over by Indonesian authorities.
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Dr Mahathir, however, said the public would be able to have an idea of what the Equanimity was about as pictures had been taken of the luxurious interior of the vessel during the visit.
“Everything that you can think of is found there and many things that you don't think about is also there. It is not really a yacht, but a huge ship,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said it appeared that several paintings had been removed from the ship.
He said the proposed sale of the superyacht will be advertised internationally.
Asked if any parties had expressed interest to buy the vessel, Dr Mahathir said he had some idea of who the interested parties were.
Nevertheless, he stressed that those intending to purchase it “must be very, very rich”.
“Maybe people like the Arabs or Bill Gates might (make an) offer,” he quipped, adding that the ship would be very expensive to maintain.
Dr Mahathir also dared Jho Low to come and stake his claim over the ship’s ownership.
"WE ARE ENTITLED TO IT"
Dr Mahathir said the United States has assured that Malaysia was indeed the owner of the superyacht Equanimity as it had been acquired by Mr Low using funds siphoned from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
This was uncovered in the course of an investigation by the US Department of Justice (DOJ), said the prime minister.
"The DOJ investigated and they found that this yacht belonged to Jho Low and that the money he paid for it was stolen money, from 1MDB," he said.
Dr Mahathir added the US had documents on this.
"They have assured us that this is Jho Low's boat and they said if we want to keep it we are entitled to it because this is ours, and (the yacht had been) bought with stolen Malaysian money, and when we eventually sell this boat we're entitled to the proceeds," he said.
A total of US$4.5 billion was allegedly misappropriated by top-level 1MDB officials and their associates, according to civil lawsuits filed by the DOJ.
The suits allege that US$1.7 billion worth of assets were allegedly bought with the stolen funds, which US officials are seeking to recover.
PORT KLANG (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has described the Equanimity as being "super luxurious" and said the government will sell the yacht to the highest bidder as soon as possible.
The premier toured the US$250 million (S$343 million) vessel, which allegedly belongs to fugitive businessman Jho Low, on Saturday (Aug 11) at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Port Klang where it is berthed after being handed over to the Malaysian authorities on Monday.
"It's very luxurious, super luxurious. I have been on yachts before but nothing like this. Everything is superb, and bought with stolen money, by crooks. We'll get at the crooks," he said at a media conference after spending an hour on the boat.
The Equanimity was first seized in February by Indonesian officials for the US Department of Justice (DOJ), after the DOJ claimed it was purchased with funds stolen from Malaysian state fund 1MDB.
Indonesian authorities handed over the vessel to Malaysian marine police off Batam island on Monday. On the same day the DOJ filed an application to the court in California to suspend all proceedings regarding the vessel so the US government could find out Malaysia's intentions for the yacht.
Tun Dr Mahathir said on Saturday the US authorities have confirmed the yacht was purchased by Mr Low using funds stolen from 1MDB.
“They have identified this boat as being bought with stolen money from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and it belonged to Jho Low. They have documents on this and said if we wanted to keep it, we are entitled to it because it was bought with our stolen money,” he said, as quoted by new site the Malay Mail.
The premier said the government aims to sell the vessel to the highest bidder as soon as possible.
He added that if Mr Low, whose full name is Low Taek Jho, wants to prevent the Equanimity from being sold off, it is up to him to prove that the ship is his and not bought with money stolen from Malaysia.
"We are going to sell the boat as soon as possible. The maintenance of this boat alone costs us RM2 million a month," said Dr Mahathir.
He also said that the superyacht would not be open for public viewing, as it needs to be kept in very good condition.
"On yachts people don't even wear shoes, but we were given some privilege to wear shoes.
"But if we allowed hundreds of people to come and view the yacht, we might damage the yacht. It will give a very bad impression and buyers won't want to buy the ship exhibited like that.
"So we cannot allow the public to view the yacht."
Dr Mahathir said the ship had "fantastic" elevators inside it, where even the cables were hidden from sight.
"The furniture is special for this boat, I think. I have never seen furniture like that anywhere else, and the rooms are fantastic," he said.
Dr Mahathir said the most luxurious room, the master bedroom, has a glass roof, so one can lie on the bed and look up at the sky.
"There is a skylight, and of course if it is too hot you can close it. Everything you can think of is found there, and many things you don't even think about are also there," he said.
Accompanying Dr Mahathir during his inspection of the ship were Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, Armed Forces chief General Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, Navy chief Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin and Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
Asked whether anyone had expressed an interest in buying the Equanimity, Dr Mahathir said the government has an idea of who may be interested.
"We have some idea on people who are interested but they must be very, very rich. Maybe Arabs or Bill Gates might offer," he said, referring to the billionaire founder of Microsoft.
PORT KLANG: The Government aims to sell the RM1bil superyacht Equanimity to the highest bidder as soon as possible, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The Prime Minister said no time frame has been given to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low to prove that the ship is his and not bought with money stolen from Malaysia, if he wants to prevent the vessel from being sold off by the Government.
"We are going to sell the boat as soon as possible. The maintenance of this boat alone costs us RM2mil a month and we want to sell it as soon as possible," Dr Mahathir told a media conference after boarding the superyacht along with other officials on Saturday (Aug 11).
Asked whether anyone had expressed an interest in buying the Equanimity, Dr Mahathir said the Government has an idea of who may be interested.
"We have some idea on people who are interested but they must be very, very rich, maybe Arabs or Bill Gates might offer," he said.
The Prime Minister spent about one hour inside the superyacht which is currently berthed at the Boustead Cruise Centre at Pulau Indah here.
The media was not allowed on board.
PORT KLANG: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has described the US$250mil (RM1bil) superyacht Equanimity, which purportedly belonged to fugitive businessman Jho Low, as being very luxurious.
"It's very luxurious, super luxurious. I have been on yachts before but nothing like this. Everything is superb, and bought with stolen money, by crooks. We'll get at the crooks," he added.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir spent an hour touring the superyacht after arriving at 11.40am Saturday (Aug 11) at the Boustead Cruise Centre where it is currently berthed at Pulau Indah here.
The media was not allowed on board.
Later asked how he felt touring the ship, Dr Mahathir said that he felt like he was on a ship that was bought with money stolen by "crooks".
On whether the public will be allowed to board the ship and have a look at its interior, Dr Mahathir said the superyacht would not be open for public viewing.
He said since the Government plans to sell the Equanimity, it needs to be kept in very good condition.
"On yachts people don't even wear shoes, but we were given some privilege to wear shoes.
"But if we allowed hundreds of people to come and view the yacht, we might damage the yacht. It will give a very bad impression and buyers won't want to buy the ship exhibited like that.
"So we cannot allow the public to view the yacht."
However, Dr Mahathir said that photos have been taken of the vessel's luxurious interior.
"We can show you what it is like," he said, without giving further details on when the photos will be released.
Dr Mahathir said the ship had "fantastic" elevators inside it, where even the cables were hidden from sight.
"The furniture is special for this boat, I think. I have never seen furniture like that anywhere else, and the rooms are fantastic."
Describing the most luxurious room in the ship which is the master bedroom, Dr Mahathir said the room has a glass roof, so one can sleep on the bed and look at the sky.
"There is a skylight, and of course if it is too hot you can close it. Everything you can think of is found there, and many things you don't even think about are also there," he said.
Asked about the ships value, the Prime Minister said some have valued the ship at more than US$100mil while others have said that the Equanimity is worth US$250mil.
Accompanying Dr Mahathir during his inspection of the ship were Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Jen Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun.
The superyacht linked to Low and the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal was originally seized by Indonesian authorities in Bali on Feb 28 on the application of the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
The DOJ seized the yacht and asserted ownership of it on behalf of Malaysia and 1MDB because money belonging to the country was used to purchase it.
Indonesian authorities handed over the vessel to Malaysian marine police off Batam island on Monday (Aug 6).
The following day the ship headed here and docked.
On Monday, the DOJ in a filing to the California Central District Court proposed a suspension of all proceedings in the department's legal actions regarding the vessel.
This was to allow the US government and any interested claimant the opportunity to inquire of Malaysia through formal channels what its intentions are with respect to the yacht.
