Malaysian-made but Chinese technology train by 2020?

CHINA'S major electric locomotive maker CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co says Malaysia will be able to manufacture its own trains by 2020.

To facilitate this, CSR Zhuzhou's unit, CSR Kuala Lumpur Maintenance Sdn Bhd (CKM), will transfer its technology, expertise and know-how to Malaysia over the next five years.

This is CSR Zhuzhou's plan to help Malaysia rely less on foreign expertise before exiting the country's train maintenance service over the period, CKM director and general manager Luke Wang said.

Wang said the idea is to help Malaysia be less dependent on foreign experts to maintain trains.

"Not only will Malaysia have a sizeable workforce for the maintenance of trains, the country can one day manufacture its own rolling stocks," he said.

CKM currently carries out the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) works for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB)'s trains. The company was awarded a two-year MRO contract worth RM133 million.

Three years ago, CSR Zhuzhou, a unit of China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corp Ltd, inked a RM1.9 billion deal with KTMB to supply 38 sets of custom-built six-car set trains.

Wang said CSR Zhuzhou is still talking to the Transport Ministry to extend the existing MRO contract which expires next February.

The Railwaymen's Union of Malaya (RUM), however, is against any extension.

According to RUM, CSR Zhuzhou or CKM did not comply with the requirements set out under the offset programme with the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (Might).

"The deal requires CSR Zhuzhou to transfer expertise and technology to locals, but they have not done that. Only 30 per cent of its staff are Malaysians, and doing odd jobs," RUM said.

In response, Wang said CKM has been training locals here for the research and development of trains and sending them in batches to its headquarters in Zhuzhou to learn how to assemble trains.

He also said that CKM has 131 staff and 72 per cent are locals, employed mainly as technicians.

"We are working closely with Might and providing long-term education to bring more knowledge to Malaysians about the rail industry," he added.

BT