CHUKAI: As the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) takes shape, a local university college is poised to become a training centre for the project’s workers.
The TATi University College in Teluk Kalong, Kemaman is ready for the purpose, said its board chairman and Ajil state assemblyman Ghazali Taib.
Ghazali, who is also Terengganu communications, multimedia and special functions chairman, said the ECRL was expected to offer jobs for 2,000 to 3,000 people
“There is no doubt that the ECRL will be a catalyst to stimulate investment, spur commercial activities, create ample jobs, facilitate quality education and boost tourism in Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan
"As such, TATiUC wants to seize the opportunity to play its role, especially in offering Terengganu-born youths job opportunities,” said Ghazali.
He added that the TATiUC’s management was now in talks with the Finance Ministry’s Technology Depository Agency (TDA) for the purpose.
The college was previously known as the Terengganu Advance Technical Institute.
Ghazali said among the training programmes being looked into are six sub-sectors of 'rolling stock', 'track work', signalling and communications', 'automated fares' collection', electrification', and 'tunneling and e-locomotive'.
“We are confident of offering effective training solutions for the ECRL project as TATiUC is a high-technology instituition, complete with the necessary specialised facilities.
“The ECRL project management is also keen to hire our graduates for the locomotive industry, given that 90 per cent of our students are readily absorbed into various industries in the country,” said Ghazali.
Additionally, he said, TATiUC was looking at offering courses concerning rail and locomotive maintenance, in tandem with the ECRL technological advancement.
The multi-billion ringgit and 668km ECRL, that will connect Port Klang in Selangor to Tumpat in Kelantan via Pahang’s Kuantan port and Terengganu’s Kemaman port, will change the socioeconomic landscape for the east coast peninsula states.
It is estimated that 5.4 million passengers and 53 million tonnes of cargo will use the ECRL service annually by 2030 as the primary transport between the east and west coasts of the peninsula.