Turkish company clarifies super yacht order
Malaysiakini.com
Dec 27, 2006

A Turkish yachting and tourism company has denied it received an order from Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the construction of a RM30 million super-luxury yacht.

“The honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia does not have any order for the construction of a cruiser through our company,” said Kobra Yatcilik Turizm ve Turizm Limited Co.

According to Bernama, the company’s clarification was made in a letter sent to Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily, which broke the news of the yacht on Dec 17.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Bernama today.

The company described the news report published by Hurriyet as “false”.

“We wish to attract your attention that this article has not only despaired our company but has also put us in desolation and misery.

“We wish to take this opportunity and find it our responsibility to inform you of the reality,” the company further stated in the letter.

The company said the report which claimed Abdullah who visited Bodrum - one of Turkey’s prettiest holiday resorts - for the purpose of inspecting the construction of a boat was “not authentic, is circumstantial, hearsay and false.”
‘It’s a lie’

The issue was first highlighted in the Internet earlier last week by blogger and former Malay Mail editor Ahirudin Attan in his Rocky’s Bru blog.

Abdullah denied the report last Wednesday.

“The report is inaccurate. It is a lie. I don’t know where it (the newspaper) got such facts,” he had reportedly said, adding that he would also ask for a correction from the newspaper.

The premier admitted he was in Turkey for his transit from Kuala Lumpur before going to Venezuela for a working visit but denied he was there to see the luxury boat.

According to the Turkish newspaper report, the premier went to Bodrum in Turkey recently to check on the progress of his super-luxury yacht, which he ordered four months ago.

The Hurriyet report said the boat is made of Akuju, Maun, Sipo and Brimanya tree which is imported from South Africa and expected to be completed in 16 months.

According to report, Abdullah was in Bodrum to go fishing with Malaysian tycoon Ananda Krishnan.

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