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Malaysia's biggest-ever infrastructure project, the China-built East Coast Rail Link, will begin operations on time early next year despite challenges. The 650-kilometer line will be run by hundreds of local staff trained in China. Rian Maelzer reports from Kuala Lumpur.
The East Coast Rail Link will connect the country's large west coast ports and capital to the underdeveloped east coast, including a Chinese joint-venture port and industrial park.
Built by China Communications Construction Company, the project is creating job opportunities for locals and upgrading their skills.
CCCC has sent more than 200 Malaysian college grads to China's Liuzhou Railway Vocational College for year-long training.
YOW PEY LING Assistant General Manager, Human Resources, CCCECRL "There are four categories that we have trained: They are in power supply, rolling stock, signalling and transportation management."
The first batch of trainees recently graduated.
MIRZA AQIL ZABID PLKI-ECRL Railway Maintenance Graduate "Firstly, it's the hands-on and the practical programme that they provide for us to learn. You cannot just read the book. So you need to have a hands-on experience. They just don't only have a practical, they have a simulation VR. This is very good for learning."
ALEEYA AMEERA AZMI PLKI-ECRL Railway Operations Management Graduate "In China I'm doing diploma in transportation management. I'm studying about passenger flow management, about station operation. The trainers teach us how to handle the real-life case. So it will help us to learn well and know how to manage the emergency, the problems. ECRL gives me role like assistant station officer."
Thaqif Maszuki trained in maintaining the sophisticated signaling systems.
MUHAMMAD THAQIF IMAN MASZUKI PLKI-ECRL Signalling Maintenance Graduate "I can see my career growth in ECRL and also a good opportunity for me. So I was very excited. And it's a new journey for me to learn about hands-on, about the signal machine, about all the control room of the facility there."
In the face of multiple challenges, keeping the project on track for completion at the end of 2026 has been quite a feat.
RIAN MAELZER Gombak, Malaysia "A new government elected in 2018 cancelled the ECRL only to reinstate it a few months later but with a different route. Then another government in 2020 saw the ECRL revert to the original planned alignment."
Then there were the disruptions caused by the pandemic, as well as technical challenges.
CCCC used advanced track welding and rapid track-laying systems, as well as a record-breaking tunnelling system.
KONG QI CCCECRL Project Director "The Chinese supply chain is also very, very strong. Yeah, so, we can, in so short time, to produce, and to introduce this material, the track, and also signalling system, communication system, to make this project on time to deliver."
Once the rail line is complete, CCCC will jointly operate and manage it with its Malaysian partners.
KONG QI CCCECRL PROJECT DIRECTOR "We will introduce Chinese operation and maintenance technology. And we will transfer this modern operation and maintenance technology to our Malaysia colleagues."
As the completion date approaches, there is a growing anticipation and excitement in Malaysia, and especially on the east coast with the hope that it will not only speed up transportation, but also boost tourism, and bring investment and job opportunities to this underdeveloped part of the country.
RM, CGTN, GOMBAK, MALAYSIA.
