KUCHING: The Russian-owned sailing ship, Lodya Pilgrim, which ran aground in Oya, Mukah, has been proposed to be donated to the Sarawak government as a new tourism attraction.
Former Senator, Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian, said that the proposal holds great potential, but it would require repair work before it can be realised.
“However, this discussion is still in the early stages, and any decision will depend on the agreement of various parties,” he said after paying a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Economy and Member of Parliament for Mukah, Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, at her office in Kuala Lumpur recently.
During the meeting, Jaziri informed Hanifah about the ship that had run aground in her jurisdiction.
In this regard, he also held preliminary discussions with the Russian Embassy in Malaysia and the captain of Lodya Pilgrim, Sergei Sinelnik, to find the best solution to the issue.
The historic sailing ship ran aground in the waters of Oya on Dec 20 last year due to bad weather and a malfunction in the navigation system.
Built as a replica of wooden ships from the 16th to 18th centuries, Lodya Pilgrim has participated in various expeditions and has sailed around the world for a long time.
