Dr M: Show proof of yacht purchase

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said if there are claims from any parties that the super yacht Equanimity belongs to them, then they have the right to get it back.

However, Mahathir said investigations by the US Department of Justice had indicated that the yacht, which purportedly belongs to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, was purchased using funds stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

“We believe that the yacht belongs to Malaysia, bought using Malaysian money believed to have been stolen by certain parties.

“If there are others who have proof that they purchased the yacht using their own, valid money, and not stolen money, they have the right to get the yacht back,” Mahathir said in a video that was posted on Facebook yesterday.

Mahathir is also grateful to the Indonesian government, particularly its President Joko Widodo, for returning the US$250 million (RM1 billion) super yacht.

The yacht will be evaluated and sold off to the highest bidder, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“When the yacht comes tomorrow (today), the Attorney-General (AG) will ensure all the papers are in order and proper controls are imposed and if possible they will ensure that there are proper inventory of assets inside the yacht,” he said at a press conference in Parliament yesterday.