Recently, the Graduation Ceremony for International Students under the PLKI-ECRL Work-Based Academic Program for the Malaysia East Coast Rail Link Project was held in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Sixty-six graduates received their diplomas.

The program, jointly launched by CCCC and Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd, aims to train 5,000 railway construction and operations professionals for Malaysia during the construction and operation of the ECRL. Since its launch in 2017, it has trained 2,359 people for key roles, including assistant train drivers and engineers, providing solid talent support for the project.

In May 2025, the training program was upgraded with the launch of a work-based training class to cultivate around 210 high-level operations and maintenance professionals. The 66 graduates in this cohort completed one year of systematic study at Liuzhou Railway Vocational Technical College, focusing on courses such as railway traffic dispatching, train reception and shunting operations, and mechanical maintenance, alongside regular hands-on training.

"Compared with just seeing diagrams in textbooks, being able to operate the equipment myself is amazing!" said trainee Hakimi.

Trainee Chan Yi Lin said that from starting with no background in railway knowledge to now mastering professional skills, this year has been a period of well-rounded growth. She said she will take this experience back to Malaysia.

Another trainee said studying in China has broadened his horizons and taught him the value of teamwork.

At the ceremony, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the graduates hold historic significance for Malaysia's railway industry. He expressed hope they would apply their knowledge in their future careers, continue improving their skills, and become a backbone of the railway sector.