Malaysia perlu 25,000 tenaga kerja sektor rel menjelang 2030

Malaysia requires 25,000 workers in rail technology and operations by 2030, according to Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd CEO Darwis Abdul Razak. The Ministry of Human Resources (MHRT) through the Human Resources Development Department (JTM) is developing courses aligned with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure this target is met.

Razak stated this during a media forum before inaugurating the IMT-GT 2026 TVET Forum, which aims to connect policymakers, TVET institutions, rail industry, researchers, and international partners to strengthen skills development and support the transformation of the rail industry in the region. Additionally, 3,000 job opportunities have been opened specifically for the operation of the Eastern Rail Link (ECRL) project, including operation, infrastructure management, and rolling stock management.

The project is currently 95.41% complete as of August, with Phase 1 construction from Kota Bharu to Gombak reaching 97.65%, set to be completed by mid-December, pending testing, licensing, and safety requirements. Razak noted that while the initial plan was to complete ECRL by January 2027, the government requested the service to open to the public in December, coinciding with school holidays, and the team is working to achieve this goal.

The successful completion of the ECRL test run on September 25, taking approximately three hours and 19 minutes at speeds up to 160 km/h, demonstrates the feasibility of traveling between Kota Bharu and Gombak in less than four hours.