Against the odds: Wan Hamiz Ozai carries Malaysia’s rail hopes into WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 contest

Wan Hamiz Ozai, a 20-year-old student pursuing a Diploma in Rail Systems Engineering Technology at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI), has been selected to represent Malaysia in the Rail Vehicle Technology category at the WorldSkills Competition Shanghai 2026. Hailing from Butterworth, Penang, Wan Hamiz's fascination with rail transport systems began during his school years, and was further nurtured by exposure to major rail projects like the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Mutiara Line.

His journey to the international competition has been a three-year endeavor, where he honed both his electrical and mechanical skills to prepare for the event held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) in Shanghai. Despite feeling a slight sense of nervousness about competing against countries with established technical expertise, Wan Hamiz credits continuous guidance from experts and coaches for boosting his confidence.

Wan Hamiz's coach, Mohd Firdaus Hassan, a lecturer at UniKL MIDI, observed the student's natural talent and passion for the field while he was still in the university's classroom setting. Mohd Firdaus believes that these qualities served as a strong foundation for developing the technical skills required for the competition. He began his WorldSkills journey as a technical assistant in the WorldSkills Malaysia University Challenge in 2023, before becoming a participant in 2024 and 2025 editions.

In the international competition, Wan Hamiz views his Malaysian teammates as underdogs due to the advantage China holds in terms of equipment and technical personnel. However, after three days of competition, he believes that not to underestimate what Wan Hamiz can achieve. WSC Shanghai 2026 will host 1,400 top young skilled professionals from over 65 countries and regions.