JOHOR BARU: The state government is proposing that the National Rail Centre of Excellence, which was announced in the recent 2018 Budget, be built in Johor.
State Public Works, Rural and Regional Committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the state government has decided to submit the proposal to the Federal government after the matter was deliberated during yesterday's state executive council meeting.
He said Johor was a suitable location for the centre as it has many mega projects related to the rail sector planned in the state.
"As there will be many projects related to rail, including the High Speed Rail (HSR), Electrified Double-Tracking Project between Gemas and Johor Baru, Rapid Transit System (RTS) in Johor, the state government feels that Johor is the best location to set up the National Rail Centre of Excellence.
"A proposal will be forwarded to build the centre in Johor. Institutions such as UTHM (Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia) have also expressed interest in being involved.
"The matter was discussed in the state executive council meeting, and the Johor government will propose this matter to the federal government," said Hasni after opening Industrial Building System (IBS) Seminar for Bumiputera Entrepreneurs organised by the Southern Region Malaysian Construction Academy in Puteri Pacific Hotel today.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in the Budget tabled on Oct 27 that the Federal government will establish the National Rail Centre of Excellence (NRCOE) to oversee and coordinate quality assurance as well as accreditation of national rail education and training.
Najib said the effort will support the development of skilled workers in the rail sector. In addition, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with public institutes of higher learning will train 3,000 professionals in this industry.
Hasni said that based on an initial proposal to the Federal government, the centre could be built in an area earmarked between Johor Baru, Pontian and Ulu Choh, which is also slated for the construction of the biggest depot for the HSR project.
"The biggest station for the HSR is expected to be in Singapore. But due to limited area (in Singapore), Johor will be an area that has good potential to provide support services to the needs of this biggest HSR station.
"Areas near Johor Baru, Pekan Nanas, Pontian and the Ulu Choh-Skudai stretch of the (HSR) alignment are suitable for the construction of what is expected to be the biggest depot for the rail project," said Hasni.
He said if the proposal was approved, construction on the National Rail Centre of Excellence could begin as early as next year.
Hasni said the Johor government was currently training 300 Bumiputera contractors under the Johor Centre for Contractor Development to help them obtain rail industry-related expertise with the help of the Malaysian Construction Academy and Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB).