KUALA LUMPUR: Documents detailing the Government's move to seize the RM1bil superyacht Equanimity are deemed public documents, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

"All the information have been filed in the court through the warrant arrest and supporting affidavit.

"These documents are public documents and are open for public viewing," he said when answering a question by Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said during Minister's Question Time in Parliament on Tuesday (Aug 14).

Liew denied allegations made by lawyers of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, that the seizure of the ship by the Government was invalid.

Liew defended the Government's move to seize the vessel, which was based on evidence that it was purchased by Jho Low using money from 1Malaysia Development Berhad and two of its subsidiaries.

Among details of the affidavit, he said, was the fact that the superyacht was constructed in Rotterdam, Netherlands in September 2013 with Jho Low flying in from Barcelona, Spain to see the vessel.

He added that Jho Low had engaged a lawyer from London to finalise the purchase of the Equanimity in March 2014 with the vessel delivered sometime in June that year.

"We are still waiting for Jho Low to return to Malaysia to claim the vessel," he added.

Liew said that proceeds from the sale of the Equanimity would be returned to 1MDB based on the company's share of the vessel.

He also denied claims of irregularity when the vessel was returned to Malaysia by Indonesia.

Equanimity is currently berthed at the Boustead Cruise Centre in Port Klang, after it was handed over to Malaysian authorities by Indonesia late last week.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was reported to have said that the Equanimity would be sold to the highest bidder to recover the stolen money used to buy the superyacht.