LIUZHOU (China): The first cohort of Malaysians who will be undertaking critical roles in the upcoming East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), graduated this week after a year-long stint at the Liuzhou Railway Vocational Technical College (LRVTC) in China’s Guangxi province.
The 66 graduates, most of whom are in their 20s, are participants of the ECRL Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL).
The programme for railway operations and maintenance will eventually see up to 259 Malaysians trained for critical roles like assistant station attendants, electric multiple unit technicians, signalling technicians and train drivers.
The proud moment for Malaysia-China collaboration took place here on Tuesday, witnessed by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, the chief executive officer for Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd, Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak, as well as representatives from participating vocational institutions.
The institutions included Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara, Institut Kemahiran Mara, Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, PahangSkills Development Centre, UCYP University, and the Advanced Technology Training Centre.
The younger group is joined by a smaller group of older participants from the Malaysian Armed Forces, who are preparing for retirement. This is an initiative under Perhebat (the Ex-Armed Forces Affairs Corporation).
Co-owned by ECRL project owner, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and the main project contractor, China Communications Construction ECRL Sdn Bhd (CCCECRL), the PLKI–ECRL Programme will equip Malaysians with the technical knowledge and skills required to support what will be Malaysia’s fastest intercity rail service, with speeds up to 160kph.
In his speech at the convocation, Loke said human capital development is critical for any project.
“Infrastructure alone does not guarantee success. It is the people behind the system; trained, competent and dedicated individuals like all of you that will determine the reliability, safety and reputation of the ECRL.
“You are not just employees of a railway. You are custodians of a national asset,” he said, adding that as ECRL involves specialised operational standards, dedicated technical training is required to ensure the workforce is capable of supporting efficient and reliable services.
In his speech, Darwis thanked CCCC and its partners for their commitment to ECRL’s success.
“Our special appreciation goes to the Liuzhou Municipal Education Bureau, the Liuzhou Foreign Affairs Office, and especially LRVTC for unwavering support and dedication in providing high-quality training,” he said.
The graduates of PLKI–ECRL will be absorbed into the company set up to manage ECRL when it starts commercial operations early next year.
They will begin as interns, and depending on their aptitude, will be offered more permanent positions in ECRL.
With phase one opening expected in January 2027, ECRL can deliver a non-stop journey time of four hours for passenger operations between Kota Baru and Gombak, while services all the way to Port Klang is expected to commence in early 2028 under phase two.
With critical tests set to start next month, construction progress of this 665km standard gauge line stands at 93.66%.
