I have never been onboard ‘Equanimity’, says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he has no knowledge on claims that super yacht Equan im ity was bought using 1Malaysian Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.

“We do not know... It’s subject to investigation,” he said at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

At the same time, he said investigation must be done to find out who owned the yacht.

“Of course I have no knowledge of it. I have not been on board. I did not know about it until it came out in the press,” he said.

On why the government under him did not pursue the claim earlier, Najib said the government then was more interested in the full settlement with the United Arab Emirates on the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).

“That is worth much more than Equanimity. But Equanimity is being used again as a populist move.”

“You’re going to get much more in the settlement with UAE and IPIC, as opposed to just making an open bidding for the Equanimity.”

Equanimity, linked to businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, arrived in Malaysia yesterday from Indonesia.

It was escorted by Malaysian police and docked in Port Klang at 12pm.

It is learnt that several senior officers from the Marine Police were also on the vessel after it was handed over by Indonesian authorities in waters off the Singapore Straits.

The Indonesian government handed the yacht to Malaysian authorities following a request by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his visit to the republic in June.

Najib said lawyer Matthias Chang had come out with a statement in his blog, questioning the legality of the move.

“The asset (yacht) will depreciate in value over time.

“Not many people in the world can buy a yacht like that,” Najib said.