PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia has the legal documents to prove that super yacht Equanimity belongs to Malaysia and aims to sell it soonest possible.

“We’re going to sell the boat as soon as possible. Maintenance of this boat alone cost us RM2 million a month.

“We have to spend a lot of money to keep the boat in good shape. Ship shape, as they call it. It’s not really a boat, it’s a ship,” said Dr Mahathir after a tour of the Equanimity in Port Klang today.

He said Malaysia will advertise worldwide and invite interested buyers to view the luxurious yacht.

“It’s not really an auction. Although there’s a bell on the ship so you can ring the bell and people can make a bid.

“If you want to make a bid you’re welcome. I’ve also offered to buy at my price of course, but they said no.

“We’ll have to advertise worldwide that we have this ship here, it belongs to us and we’re going to sell the ship.

“All the papers will be shown to them to show that the ship belongs to us and we have a right to sell the ship,” said Dr Mahathir.

The Equanimity is among assets the US Department of Justice alleged that Penang-born businessman Jho Low had bought with money siphoned from Malaysia state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in 2013 and 2014.

Dr Mahathir said if Low wants claim the Equanimity, he has to demonstrate the money trail of the US$250 million (RM1 billion) he paid ship for in 2014.

“He can come to prove to us that it belongs to him. It’s very costly. We want to know where he got the money,” he said. – August 11, 2018.