THE ARREST OF THE SUPERYACHT EQUANIMITY
HOW MALAYSIA RECLAIMED WHAT WAS HERS
Until a few years ago, I do not think many lawyers would have thought that one day Malaysia would face a maritime case of international notoriety. But it happened. And indeed the nation was so blessed with the presence of Sitpah Selvaratnam to handle it. Otherwise, the former Attorney General would have looked to foreign lawyers with expertise in maritime law. The country would have forked out huge sums of money in fees without any guarantee of dedication and loyalty to the nation. As such any doubt on her appointment, as expressed by some quarters, was unjustified. After all Ms Sitpah agreed to handle the case on a pro bono basis.
The case is now over. Malaysia has already received the money for her rightful property. It was unthinkable a few years ago. The time is right for Ms Sitpah to narrate her personal experience in handling the case without divulging any privileged information obtained from or given to her client. It is good for future generations. It is also educational for the public to know that it was not a simple case.
I have had the benefit of reading this book in draft. I must say that it is a page turner! Easy to read and direct from the heart. It is also written with meticulous detail, a clear indication of how complex maritime law is. One false step in the process, and a ship arrested can be set free to sail away. It would not have been so unnerving if the subject was merely an ordinary vessel. Here, it was one of the most luxurious yachts in the world, which only a handful of billionaires could afford. Yet, Ms Sitpah took the lead to ensure that Malaysia would recover its rightful property, so that the money received could assist in the repayment of her colossal loans that were abused to acquire the very vessel and some other properties.
I think the time has come for young law graduates to consider specializing in maritime law, lest this country end up in the near future as a maritime nation in name only. Malaysia should be competing with other maritime nations. One area to enhance is the ability to provide maritime law experts. This book is also an excellent source of information for practitioners in maritime law.
I wish to congratulate Ms Sitpah for the successful completion of this book, and I thank her for inviting me to pen this foreword. I have no doubt that this book will be a success!
Copyright 2021 @ Sitpah Selvaratnam. All rights reserved.