PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has thanked Indonesia, especially its president Joko Widodo, for cooperating with Malaysia in handing the US$250mil (RM1bil) superyacht Equanimity over to the country.

The Prime Minister said this cooperation was a result of the close relationship between both countries.

“We believe that the yacht belongs to Malaysia because it is believed that it was bought with Malaysian money that was stolen by certain parties.

“If there is anyone who claims the yacht is theirs, they can show proof that they own it.

“We want to know how they managed to amass a huge amount of money to be able to purchase such an expensive yacht.

“If they have proof that they purchased the yacht using their own money, and not stolen money, they have the right to get back the yacht,” Dr Mahathir said in a video that was posted on Facebook on Monday (Aug 6).

However, he said that investigations by the US Department of Justice indicated that the yacht was purchased using funds stolen by 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The yacht, which purportedly belongs to fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, is expected to arrive in Port Klang on Tuesday (Aug 7) afternoon.

A source said the vessel received its port clearance from the Batam Marine Department at 2.30pm Monday (Aug 6) and left at 4.45pm.

The source said at least four Malaysian policemen would accompany the ship and her crew to Malaysia.