This is Patiban (first from the left), a trainee train locomotive assistant driver for the Malaysia East Coast Railway project, captured on October 9th in Pahang, Malaysia. Photo by Cheng Yiheng, Xinhua News Agency reporter
I look forward to becoming a formal train driver soon, “said Mohammad Ikmar, a local employee of the Malaysia East Coast Railway (MCA) project, in a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency, full of anticipation.
Ikmar, 26, from Kelantan state in northern Malaysia, was selected as one of the first locomotive assistant driver training students for the China Communications Construction Corporation (CCCC) Malaysia East Rail project at the end of last year. Along with 36 other local employees, he went to Liuzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College in Guangxi, China to learn locomotive driving and maintenance skills. After the training, they will return to Malaysia to continue their internship and training. After passing the assessment, they will officially join the Malaysia East Rail project and become a “new force” in promoting China Malaysia railway cooperation.
These are three local employees who passed the “China Malaysia Railway Talent Training Program” captured on October 9th in Pahang, Malaysia. Photo by Cheng Yiheng, Xinhua News Agency reporter
This is a process of both challenges and opportunities, learning new knowledge, gaining new experiences, and putting theory into practice, “Ikmar told reporters at the project’s training center. During the training period, experienced Chinese masters patiently guided him, and the systematic courses and practical exercises allowed him to quickly enter the role.
The Ma Dong Railway project is designed to be over 600 kilometers long, and upon completion, it will become a “land bridge” connecting the east and west coasts of the Malay Peninsula, driving economic development in the east coast region and greatly improving connectivity along the route. In recent years, the project has actively fulfilled its social responsibility by training and delivering railway industry talents to the local area through multiple talent training programs.
On October 9th, Huang Mingyong (first from the left) gave a class to students in Pahang, Malaysia. Photo by Cheng Yiheng, Xinhua News Agency reporter
The Ma Dong Railway is not only a railway, but also a path for talent, “said Qiu Peiling, Assistant General Manager of the Human Resources Department of the Ma Dong Railway Project Management Department. The project actively implements the” China Malaysia Railway Talent Training Plan, “continuously strengthens cooperation with universities in both countries, and has successively opened training courses for locomotive co drivers, teacher training courses, academic education order classes, etc., to cultivate and reserve local talents for the future operation and maintenance of the project.
Nowadays, the Malaysia East Rail project has provided over 23000 job opportunities for Malaysia and surrounding countries, recruited over 10000 local employees, trained over 2000 railway construction and operation personnel, and plans to cultivate more local railway talents in the future. In May of this year, the “China Malaysia Railway Talent Training Program” was launched, and 210 Malaysian students will be selected to study and exchange at Liuzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College within the year. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar stated that the program has opened up broader and more stable career paths for Malaysian youth.
This is a drone shot of the East Coast Railway in Pahang, Malaysia on October 10th. Photo by Cheng Yiheng, Xinhua News Agency reporter
After lunch break, Ikmar’s classmates from the locomotive co driver training class came to the employee training room one after another, reviewing the course content while waiting for the arrival of Chinese master Huang Mingyong. In the eyes of Malaysian students, both Chinese masters and colleagues are deeply inspired by their efficient and rigorous work attitude.
Huang Mingyong said that language barriers have not hindered students’ enthusiasm for learning. The training courses for several consecutive months cover multiple aspects such as basic theory, operational norms, safety regulations, etc. Sometimes we demonstrate hands-on, and they understand faster and have better results.
This is Mohammad Ikmar (third from right), a local employee of the East Coast Railway project in Malaysia, captured on October 9th in Pahang state. Photo by Cheng Yiheng, Xinhua News Agency reporter
Patiban, from Kuala Lumpur, used to work in Port Klang, Malaysia. He joined the Malaysia East Rail project last year and became a train locomotive assistant driver trainee. The first batch of students is equivalent to ‘pioneers’, “Patiban proudly said.” This is not only an opportunity to realize self-worth, but in the future we will also participate in training the next generation of drivers and pass on our experience and skills
Now, on the railway line jointly built by China and Malaysia, Ikmar, Patiban, and their companions are working hand in hand to pursue their career dreams. When the train (one day) flies on the East Coast Railway, I will be proud of my efforts, “said Ikmar.
This is a bridge of the East Coast Railway in Malaysia captured by a drone on October 10th in Pahang state. Photo by Cheng Yiheng, Xinhua News Agency reporter
This is Qiu Peiling, Assistant General Manager of the Human Resources Department of the East Coast Railway Project in Pahang, Malaysia, taken on October 9th. Photo by Cheng Yiheng, Xinhua News Agency reporter