KUALA LUMPUR: The superyacht Equanimity was sold to the highest bidder and the government will not have to bear the high cost of maintaining the vessel anymore, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
“Definitely the best price they could offer. We are in support of it because for the last eight months, the government has been paying over RM14.2mil (to maintain it).
“That is a very big amount. If we can sell it quickly and get the best price possible, we don’t have to bear this sum (sic).
“It's almost RM2mil a month. So, it's very taxing.
“This is the best price. I mean, you can never be happy with the price, you always want more lah. It's natural,” he told a press conference in the Parliament lobby on Wednesday (April 3).
On March 28, it was reported that Putrajaya had spent a total of RM11mil on the maintenance of the Equanimity, and an additional RM3.22mil had been budgeted for the superyacht's upkeep from January to March.
Earlier Wednesday (April 3), the Attorney-General’s Chambers announced that the Equanimity had been sold to Genting Malaysia Bhd for US$126mil (RM514.14mil).
The Equanimity, formerly owned by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho aka Jho Low, was purchased using funds allegedly stolen from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
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