KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that Malaysia will send its first group of East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) maintenance trainees to China on May 15, with 102 individuals set to undergo hands-on training in Liuzhou. The programme, fully funded by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) with a RM12 million allocation, aims to prepare local talent for key operational roles in ECRL’s upcoming service phase.
Loke assured that all trainees completing the programme will be offered employment within the ECRL network, which spans 665km and is now 82.45 per cent complete. Emphasising the importance of local workforce development, he said that 80 per cent of the 1,800 jobs expected by 2027 will be filled by Malaysians, reducing dependence on foreign expertise.
