STDC, RAILSB sign deal to empower rail industry training

By Sheeda Fathil

BANGI, June 13 — The Selangor Technical Skills Development Centre (STDC) and RA Integration Links Sdn Bhd (RAILSB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to empower education and training in the rail industry.

Dato’ Saipolyazan M. Yusop, CEO of Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated), or MBI, said the strategic cooperation supports the implementation of the Smart Selangor Technical and Professional Skills Initiative and completes the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) agenda pursued by the state government.

“RAILSB has vast expertise and experience in the rail field, while STDC has students who are talented and skilled.

“In fact, most rail alignments such as the Light Rail Transit, Mass Rapid Transit… are in and pass through Selangor. With this cooperation, we believe youth can be trained to be ready to contribute their talent not just in Selangor, but also in other states,” said Saipolyazan.

He was met after the MOU signing ceremony between the STDC and RAILSB at Tenera Hotel here today.

Meanwhile, Harizal Hamid, CEO of STDC, said the first batch of the training programme, set to start in September, involves 50 students. 

“STDC students who complete certain levels of the Sijil Kemahiran Malaysia will be placed in an on-job training programme at RAILSB, with a high probability of being absorbed to start a career in the industry.

“This is a pioneering project we are trying to implement from the MOU today, and it will benefit the students especially with career development,” he said.

RAILSB chairman Tengku Hishamuddin Zaizi said the collaborative effort can boost local talent in the rail industry and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.

“RAILSB is highly experienced in the train field; we have long been ready to share our expertise, especially with the Selangor government, on the rail industry.

“As the menteri besar (Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari) said … many forget that heavy industries like rail have been modernised thanks to local talent,” he said.

RAILSB, which was incorporated in 2016, is an integrated rail engineering firm and among the examples of a local company that has successfully strengthened the nation’s rail industry expertise.

The company now does Stage 3 maintenance, repair and overhaul for 50 CRRC Zhuzhou train units on the Ampang route, which benefits thousands of commuters daily.

Even more of a point of pride is that the operation is fully sustained by local talent, thanks to the nation’s effective TVET development efforts.