I met my interlocutor, former senator of the Malaysian parliament Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian, in September of last year in Moscow at the First World Public Summit.
– Mr. Jaziri, in December 2024, Russian media reported that a Russian wooden sailing ship was in distress off the coast of Malaysia.
– The story of the Russian ship “Palomnik” (“Pilgrim”) – a historical replica of a 16th–18th century Pomor sailing boat – is one of resilience, culture, and unity. Built at the “Polar Odyssey” Maritime Center in Petrozavodsk (Russia), this sailing vessel has been on a circumnavigation since 2017 under the command of Captain Sergey Sinelnik, an Honored Traveler of Russia and member of the Russian Geographical Society. It has crossed the equator twice, visited 21 countries, and sailed over 23,000 nautical miles through Europe and the Atlantic, across the Great Lakes of North America, along the Pacific coasts of Canada, Alaska, Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, Japan, the Philippines, Borneo, and finally to Sarawak in Malaysia.
The Pilgrim is more than just a ship. On board is a floating museum of Russian wooden architecture and shipbuilding, with models spanning centuries of maritime history. Visitors see vessels from first-millennium boats to Pomor “koch” boats, each a testament to craftsmanship and endurance. Captain Sinelnik has given lectures in many ports, sharing Russia’s maritime heritage with audiences often discovering it for the first time. Everywhere, the reception has been warm – proof that culture speaks a universal language.
The expedition project of the Pilgrim boat
– Fate brought the Pilgrim to Sarawak last year, where it struck a rock in the Oya River in the Mukah district, sustaining a hole in its hull…
– For months, the question of whether to repair and continue the voyage or to leave the vessel as a memorial and tourist attraction remained unanswered. I also discussed this in detail with Yang Berhormat (meaning “most honorable” – editor’s note) Hanifah Hajar Taib, as the damaged ship was located in her constituency.
What followed was a story of true friendship. Owing to a generous donation and the extraordinary skill of Sarawak’s shipbuilders, the vessel was restored. It has already set sail again, crossing the Strait of Malacca, but the spirit of cooperation remains. Sarawak, where seafaring and shipbuilding are part of the local identity, embraced the Pilgrim not as a stranger, but as a kindred spirit.
– This is cultural diplomacy in its purest form!
– You are absolutely right. Cultural diplomacy does not always begin with treaties or speeches, but sometimes with genuine encounters – sometimes even with a damaged ship in need of help. Trust is built when people recognize authenticity, respect heritage, and share traditions.
The Pilgrim shows that trust between peoples can be carried across oceans, plank by plank, sail by sail. Although it has left Mukah, the connection remains. What if we proposed an idea to build a replica of the Pilgrim? Imagine a wooden ship, crafted here, sailing as a living museum and a symbol of friendship between Sarawak and Russia. It would enrich cultural tourism, give Malaysians and international visitors a chance to touch history on the water, and prove that cooperation and trust are not abstract concepts. They are things that can be built – plank by plank – and carried across the seas.
Recovery of the boat after an accident
– It seems to me that a Malaysian replica would not only pay tribute to Russia’s maritime heritage but also embody Malaysia’s openness to cooperation, trust, and shared cultural journeys across the seas.
– I agree. It would stand as a lasting testament to the power of cultural diplomacy in building bridges between peoples, reminding us that the sea is not a barrier but a path to mutual understanding.
In a world where dialogue is difficult, the Pilgrim offers a hopeful example. It proves that culture can travel, trust can be built, and cooperation can be nurtured in the most human of ways. Sarawak and Russia remind us that bridges between nations are built not only in conference halls, but also on the decks of wooden ships, under sails that carry history and hope.
– When we spoke on the sidelines of the First World Public Summit in Moscow in September 2025, you said: “Only by uniting our efforts will we achieve a true peace where no one is forgotten or left to their fate.” The story of the Pilgrim seems a perfect illustration of this. Malaysia traditionally places great importance on intercultural exchanges as a means of deepening mutual understanding. In your opinion, are we seeing an expansion of cooperation in education, culture, and tourism between our countries today?
– There is a serious need for Malaysia and Russia to work more closely in education, culture, and tourism because this will be the foundation for a stronger relationship and going into partnership in other key areas like trade and investment.
Both parties have announced the increase of scholarship programs, and more Malaysian students will have opportunities to study in Russian universities, especially in science and engineering.
In culture, we see more exchanges – exhibitions, performances and literary events – which help both sides to understand and get to know each other at a more meaningful level. Tourism is also growing. Over the past two years, the number of Malaysian visitors to Russia has grown over threefold. Malaysians see Russia as a new holiday destination and are interested in Russia’s history and traditions, while Russians are discovering Malaysia’s diversity and warmth. These are real experiences that build trust and friendship.
Circumnavigation of the Russian boat “Pilgrim” under the command of Captain Sergei Sinelnik
– I read that the Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, is highly interested in Russian culture and that he values Russian ballet and reads Chekhov. How interested are Malaysians in Russian culture, and how familiar are they with it?
– As for Malaysians’ interest in Russian culture, it is true that our Prime Minister’s love of Russian ballet and literature shows a wider openness. Russian culture is not yet widely known in Malaysia, but there is genuine interest. Ballet, classical music, and writers like Chekhov, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky are admired by students and readers. The story of the Pilgrim in Sarawak also caught people’s attention, showing that cultural exchange can begin in unexpected ways. Every encounter – whether through art, literature, or ships – adds to our understanding and friendship.
– Mr. Jaziri, let us conclude our talk with our magazine’s traditional question. What do you like the most about Russia? What has captivated you most?
– Russia offers something unique and untraditional to our Malaysian tourists that begs a visit at least once in a lifetime, or more! In the Red Square, you feel the weight of history, and in theaters and concert halls, you feel the openness of people who want to share their culture. The strength of their spirit and the depth of their culture have left a lasting mark on me. Russia is not just a country – it is a bridge. A bridge built of books, music, ships, and human encounters. And like the Pilgrim, it sails across oceans, carrying trust and friendship plank by plank, sail by sail, building trust and friendship wherever she docks.
Interview by Yulia NOVITSKAYA, writer, journalist, and correspondent for New Eastern Outlook
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