WITH the deadline to sell the Equanimity having passed yesterday, all eyes are now on Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to reveal the government’s next step.

He is expected to make an announcement this week regarding the disposal of the super yacht, government-appointed shipping lawyer Sitpah Selvaratnam told The Malaysian Insight.

Sitpah is leading the legal team for Putrajaya and 1Malaysia Development Bhd in efforts to sell off the vessel.

The government previously set a minimum asking price of US$130 million (RM543 million) – half of the Equanimity’s original price – and a deadline of March 31 to sell the vessel.

1MDB lawyer Jeremy Joseph had told The Malaysian Insight that Putrajaya was “evaluating offers” for the yacht.

The Equanimity was purchased for US$250 million in 2014 by Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, allegedly using 1MDB funds.

It was reported that the yacht may have up to 20 interested buyers from the Middle East, Russia and Asia.

Last week, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told Parliament that Putrajaya spent RM14.22 million to maintain the vessel between last August and last month.

Malaysia took possession of the 91.5m vessel from Indonesia, where it was first seized as part of an asset-recovery operation by the US Department of Justice in its probe into stolen 1MDB funds. It is currently anchored in Langkawi.

The Equanimity can accommodate 26 guests, and has a crew of 28.

Built by the Netherlands-based custom yacht builder Oceano, it is the 54th largest yacht in the world, weighing 2,998 tonnes. – April 1, 2019.