PETALING JAYA: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd has been appointed a Regional Training Centre (RTC) by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), marking a significant milestone for Malaysia's public transport sector.
Prasarana is now the second RTC in the Asia-Pacific region, after Shenzhen, China, and the tenth worldwide.
The two-year collaboration agreement was signed today at Prasarana's headquarters in Ara Damansara.
Prasarana President and Group CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah and UITP secretary-general Mohamed Mezghani officiated the ceremony.
Azharuddin said this would strengthen Prasarana's capacity to develop human capital within the public transport sector.
"We're proud to play a key role in enhancing public transport standards and effectiveness in the region.
"Our partnership with UITP will help drive continuous improvements and establish Prasarana and UITP as leaders in smart, sustainable, and high-quality public transport," he said.
The RTC designation follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Nov 1, 2023, during the 22nd UITP Asia-Pacific Annual Meeting in Hong Kong, which laid the groundwork for this collaboration.
"Over the next two years, Prasarana and Kuala Lumpur will become key hubs for public transport capacity-building across Asia-Pacific," Mezghani said, adding that discussions on extending this partnership are expected.
This recognition elevates Malaysia's profile within the global public transport industry, establishing the country as a key player. The RTC initiative will also upskill local talent, enhancing expertise within the sector.
Prasarana plans to train 450 employees over the next four years, focusing on leadership and technical skills to maintain best practices.
The RTC programme aims to achieve 500 Level 2 and Level 3 Malaysian Skills Certification (SKM) accreditations by next year and 1,390 by 2026.
Also present were Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, Prasarana Group Chairman Tan Sri Jamaluddin Ibrahim and UITP's Head of Product and Business Development for Events and Academy Services Muhammed Emre Kiran.
Hasbi said the initiative, combined with knowledge-sharing among UITP's global participants, would enhance Malaysians' skills and produce graduates well-equipped for the transport sector.
He said UITP's course on hydrogen fuel, for instance, aligns with Sarawak's green initiatives and could be integrated into the RTC's digital technology curriculum.
Through this collaboration, over 13,000 Prasarana employees will gain access to UITP's Learning Management System (LMS) and an extensive digital library with more than 60,000 industry documents and publications.
Prasarana will also extend training and professional development to various stakeholders, including government agencies and private sector entities across the region.