Better to sell Equanimity than to let it rot in storage, says Guan Eng

Melati A. Jalil Yasmin Ramlan Melati A. Jalil, Yasmin Ramlan Updated 5 years ago · Published on 6 Aug 2018 7:44PM · 5 Comments

RATHER than leave the Equanimity to rot away in storage, the Finance Ministry would prefer to sell the super yacht to the highest bidder, says Lim Guan Eng.

The finance minister said proceeds from the sale of the RM1 billion vessel could then be returned to Malaysians.

“As the MoF, we want to realise this asset so we can at least get something back. 

“Leaving it there every day, (we) have to pay maintenance cost and we can see it deteriorate, diminish and depreciate; as finance minister I want to get the best value,” he told reporters at Parliament today. 

He said the super yacht would be sold off after it was open for public viewing. 

“We hope the public will be able to view maybe some portions of the ship, not entirely because there is a lot of valuable items inside. So there must be some sort of control.

“At the end of the day, we just want to collect back as much money as we can from all these assets stolen from Malaysia. Hopefully at the highest price,” he said.

It was reported earlier today that the Equanimity, purportedly belonging to Penang-born businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, is expected to arrive in Port Klang tomorrow.

Media reports state the vessel received port clearance from the Batam Marine Department at 2.30pm today, indicating Klang was its next port of call.

“The attorney-general will ensure all the papers are in order, proper controls are imposed, and if possible, a proper inventory of assets inside,” Lim said.

The AG will also decide on the vessel’s custodian.

The super yacht arrived in Batam island in Indonesia this morning. It had been scheduled to arrive at the Batu Ampar Port but was diverted and anchored near the Pulau Nong lighthouse at the entrance to Tering Bay about 9.30am.

The Equanimity was seized in Bali on February at the request of US authorities as part of a multi-billion dollar corruption investigation into 1MDB launched by the Department of Justice. – August 6, 2018.

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Comments

  • Why not open it to public view and collect funds as well.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lana Tan · Reply

    • It's mentioned in the article

      Posted 5 years ago by Muzamil Hanafiah · Reply

  • Better still. Catch the moronic bastard and tie the prick somewhere inside the glorified sampan so the Rakyat can either kick his balls in

    Posted 5 years ago by Guna Rethinasamy · Reply

  • Better still. Catch the moronic bastard and tie the prick somewhere inside the glorified sampan so the Rakyat can kick his balls in. If he has any

    Posted 5 years ago by Guna Rethinasamy · Reply

  • Ownership being disputed, can Malaysia pass a good title to a buyer of the yacht?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply