PUTRAJAYA is seeking a court declaration to name 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) as the legal owner of superyacht Equanimity.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Liew Vui Keong said the government intends to clarify that 1MDB is the owner of the yacht to enable it to sell her.

The move to seek a court order is necessary to sell the vessel.

“We (are) seeking a court order to sell off the vessel and a court declaration that the 1MDB group is the legal and beneficial owner(s) of the vessels or part-owner in proportionate to the respective shares therein to the extend monies or properties used by 1MDB group on behalf of defendant to buy the ship,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

The defendant Liew was referring to is Low Taek Jho or better known as Jho Low, the current owner of Equanimity.

Liew also said the government is waiting for Low to return and claim the ship, which he previously said was seized wrongfully.

“The government now awaits for Jho Low to claim back the ship if he claims it is his. We are always waiting for Jho Low.”

According to an affidavit submitted to court, Liew said Low has owned Equanimity since June 2014. Low commissioned her building in September 2013 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Liew also disputed Low’s claim that Malaysia intervened in the United States’ Department of Justice’s proceedings and said it was the US which gave the nod to Indonesia to return Equanimity.

The US government agreed that Jakarta return Equanimity to the Malaysian government, he said, refuting allegations that Putrajaya interfered in the proceedings.

Low through his lawyers claimed Malaysia “hijacked” proceedings in other countries to obtain the yacht. – August 14, 2018.