GEORGE TOWN: Genting Malaysia Bhd's superyacht Tranquility has been spotted in and out of Penang waters for the past one month.
For the first time ever today, Penangites got a clear view of the superyacht, currently berthed between the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPTC) and the iconic Penang Ferry.
A caretaker at a premises in Pengkalan Weld here, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had seen Tranquility stationary between the SPCT and the Penang Ferry for the past two days.
"In fact, I have seen it around for the past one month, going in and out, in Penang waters. No one knows where it goes (when it is out of Penang waters).
"This is the famous 1MDB boat people have been talking about all this while. Many people have stopped by to take a closer look at the luxury vessel," he said when met by the New Straits Times this afternoon.
In January this year, Genting Malaysia Bhd paid in full the US$126 million (RM514 million) for the superyacht once owned by fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, more popularly known as Jho Low.
The sale of the luxury vessel, which was seized from Jho Low over his links to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fund misappropriation scandal, was announced by the then Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas.
Jho Low had bought the superyacht for US$250mil (RM1.02bil), allegedly using money linked to 1MDB.
In April last year, Genting announced it was buying the superyacht, previously named Equanimity, that had been seized by the Malaysian government. Genting renamed it Tranquility.
Tranquility is the first superyacht to be built according to the PYC (Passenger Yacht Code) standard. It can accommodate up to 26 guests as well as 28 crew members.
The luxury vessel's facilities include a sauna, helicopter landing pad, swimming pool, gym, spa, movie theatre, tender garage and an on deck jacuzzi.
The 300ft superyacht was launched at the Oceanco yard in Alblasserdam, with Oceanco responsible for the exterior design, while Winch Design worked on the interior.