Malaysia expands rail talent development by 2030

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Rail talent development 2030

Highlights

Malaysia needs 25,000 rail technology and operations workers by 2030, with the Ministry of Human Resources providing specialised TVET courses based on industry needs.
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project offers 3,000 job opportunities in operations and maintenance, with overall construction progress reaching 95.41% as of August.
The government wants the 520km Kota Bharu-Gombak ECRL route to begin operations in December 2024, ahead of the original January 2027 schedule, following positive testing and commissioning.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Workforce needs and training plan

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said Malaysia needs 25,000 workers in rail technology and operations by 2030.

He said the Ministry of Human Resources, through the Department of Manpower, is developing Technical and Vocational Education and Training, or TVET, courses suited to meeting that target. According to him, each plan will be tailored to industry needs based on feedback from sector players so that trainees can be placed in fields matching market demand.

Khairul Firdaus made the remarks at a press conference after officiating the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle, IMT-GT, 2026 TVET Forum in Kuantan on Tuesday. The forum, themed empowering TVET for next-generation rail systems and future rail technology, brought together policymakers, TVET institutions, the rail industry, researchers and international partners to strengthen regional talent development.

ECRL project demand and industry impact

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said there are 3,000 job opportunities for the East Coast Rail Link, or ECRL, project, covering operations, infrastructure maintenance and rolling stock maintenance. He said the need is urgent and requires ongoing efforts, with TVET institutions among the main channels for supplying skilled workers to ensure the project’s success.

According to Darwis, demand for skilled workers is not limited to the ECRL but extends to other rail sectors, including Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd. In his keynote address at the IMT-GT 2026 TVET Forum, Darwis said overall ECRL construction progress reached 95.41% as of August, while Phase 1 from Kota Bharu to Gombak reached 97.65% and is targeted for completion by mid-December, subject to testing, commissioning and safety requirements.

He said the government has requested that the route be opened to the public in December during the school holidays, ahead of the original January 2027 schedule, and that test and commissioning results have so far been positive. Darwis also said the entire 520-kilometre main alignment from Gombak to Kota Bharu was traversed by train for the first time on 25 Sept, with the journey taking three hours and 19 minutes at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour, demonstrating that the target of a journey under four hours is achievable.

In our earlier article, the proposal to extend the ECRL from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang was discussed following the Prime Minister's official visit to China, with the potential to create a direct transport link to Thailand and boost the economy of Kelantan's interior. We also examined the project structure and operational partnership between MRL and the main contractor, as well as questions over financial viability, including total costs, financing loans, and the ability to cover operating costs and debt repayments.

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