Tripartite PLKI-ECRL Agreement to Benefit Rail Industry and NRCOE

Putrajaya, 2 November- The inking of a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to formalize the implementation of the ECRL Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL), will nurture more skilled workers to be in the rail industry and complement the establishment of the National Rail Centre of Excellence (NRCOE).

The signing of the MoA between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL), China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), and Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), would facilitate the upskilling of up to 3,600 PLKI-ECRL trainees with interests in the rail industry from 2017 to 2022.

MRL is the programme owner for the PLKI-ECRL that was launched by Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak on 14 June 2017, while CCCC would sponsor a sum of RM23 million for the training under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The Ministry of Higher Education has since identified UMP as the focal university to coordinate the PLKI-ECRL training.

The PLKI-ECRL programme would arm locals with the necessary skill sets to work on rail projects particularly in the areas of design and construction of railway, and is also in line with the formation of the NRCOE that will oversee and coordinate the quality assurance and accreditation of national rail education.

The signing ceremony witnessed by the Minister of Higher Education Dato’ Seri Idris  Jusoh, UMP was represented by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Dato' Dr. Daing Nasir  Ibrahim. The Executive Managing Director of CCCC, Mr. Bai Yinzhan, signed on behalf of its local outfit China Communications Construction (ECRL) Sdn Bhd while Chief Executive Officer,  Darwis Abdul Razak was the signatory for MRL.

The first intake of 50 trainees under the PLKI-ECRL consisting of 21 diploma holders and 29 degree holders have commenced their 3-month training at UMP starting from 25 September 2017. An additional 300 PLKI-ECRL trainees is expected to be enrolled for the second intake which is scheduled for December 2017.

The syllabus for PLKI-ECRL were formulated by two prominent Chinese Universities namely Beijing Jiaotong University and Southwest Jiaotong University, whom also serve as railway technology training partners with the state-owned CCCC.

MRL’s Chief Executive Officer En. Darwis Abdul Razak said the PLKI-ECRL programme was the brainchild of the Prime Minister to equip Malaysians with the knowledge and experiences in the rail industry via formal classes and on-the-job training, in view of the implementation of the ECRL and major rail projects in the pipeline.

“We plan to have 1,000 trainees particularly from the East Coast states by the second quarter of 2018, paving the way for up to 3,600 trainees to be in the PLKI-ECRL programme by year 2022,” he said during his Welcoming Remarks at the signing ceremony.

According to Darwis, MRL together with the stakeholders of the PLKI-ECRL programme, is actively recruiting candidates with Degree or Diploma in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering programmes, adding that holders of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) or Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia (SKM) were also entitled to enrol for the training.

He pointed out that PLKI-ECRL trainees that have completed the programme would be automatically offered employment by either MRL, who is the project owner for the 688-kilometer ECRL, or CCCC, the project’s main contractor or the latter’s subcontractors. The first batch of 50 trainees is expected to be hired by the relevant parties in the first quarter of 2018.