6 April 2025 – A significant milestone in the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project was marked with the launch ceremony of ECRL Manpower Recruitment for the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) and the Letter of Offer Presentation for the ECRL Industrial Skills Training Programme (PLKI-ECRL O&M) to Liuzhou, China, with the participation including Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, Transportation Minister YB Tuan Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Home Affairs YB Senator Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail, Chief Secretary to the Government YBhg. Tan Sri Shamsul Azri bin Abu Bakar, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia Mr. Lin Shiguang, CEO of Malaysia Rail Link Dato Sri Darwis and CCC-ECRL’s Managing Director Mr Deng Bo. This ceremony underscored the commitment to local workforce development and the project’s progress toward its operational phase.

The event highlighted the crucial role of skilled Malaysian personnel in the ECRL’s long-term success. The PLKI-ECRL O&M programme, sending 210 trainees to Liuzhou, China for specialized training, ensures a highly-skilled workforce capable of maintaining and operating the advanced railway system. This programme aims to develop skilled personnel for roles such as assistant station attendants, signalling technicians, assistant train drivers, overhead line technicians, and maintenance technicians for electric locomotives (E-loco) and electric multiple units (EMU)

This launch signifies more than just the recruitment of personnel; it represents a critical step towards realizing the ECRL’s full potential. By investing in local talent and fostering a collaborative partnership between Malaysia and China, the project is poised to not only revolutionize transportation in the region but also to drive economic growth and create significant employment opportunities for Malaysians.