Dr M thanks Jokowi for assistance in handing over ‘Equanimity’ to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has thanked Indonesian President Joko Widodo and the Indonesian government for their assistance in handing over the super luxury yacht ‘Equanimity’, which the Indonesian authorities had seized, to Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir in a video clip recorded in Fukuoka, Japan, and uploaded on Youtube yesterday, said the close ties between Malaysia and Indonesia had helped the Malaysian government resolve a problem it was facing.

“I sincerely thank the Indonesian government particularly Bapak Jokowi, President of Indonesia, for their cooperation with Malaysia to help resolve a problem faced by Malaysia,” he said.

The Prime Minister, who is currently in Japan for a four- day working visit, said he believed the yacht belongs to the Malaysian government because it was bought with Malaysian money that was stolen by certain parties.

In the two minutes 28 seconds clip, Dr Mahathir also said that if there were any parties who claimed that the yacht belonged to them, they must show proof.

He said that if they could show proof that they bought the yacht with their own money and not stolen money, then they had the right to get it back.

“However, according to reports and an investigation by the United States Department of Justice, they are of the opinion that this yacht was bought with money from 1MDB whereby there were attempts to launder the money by buying yachts, builidngs and others so that the money could no longer be seen as money stolen by them,” he said.

The ‘ Equanimity’ valued at US$ 250 million ( RM1 billion) which is reported to be owned by Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho better known as Jho Low was seized in Bali in February.

In April, an Indonesian court ruled that the yacht should not have been seized and should be returned to its owner.

However, the Indonesian government seized it again in July.

On Saturday, the Indonesian government agreed to hand over the yacht to Malaysia.

It is now believed to be in Batam waters and on its way to Malaysia. — Bernama