ECRL's main contractor earmarks RM23mil for training

China Communications Construction Company Ltd (CCCC), the main contractor for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, has expressed its commitment to allocate RM23 million for the ECRL Industrial Skills Training Programme as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative.

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) system director Lee Heng Cheong said the company, together with CCCC, had rolled out the programme, which would see up to 3,600 students being trained from 2017 to 2022,

“To date, 49 have graduated as professionals and another 138 as skilled workers. We have another 129 professionals and sub-professionals and 130 skilled workers who are currently undergoing training,” Lee added.

He said this in his speech during an ECRL progress briefing for caretaker transport minister Liow Tiong Lai at the ECRL Base Camp in Section 7, Bentong, today.

Lee noted that the RM55 billion project, which is expected to be completed by June 2024, was expected to generate about 80,000 jobs during its seven-year construction, with 20,000 to 30,000 workers at its peak period.

As of February, 215 local companies had been appointed for the construction of the ECRL. They comprise 26 consulting firms, 99 suppliers and 90 contractors.

Lee said CCCC would continue to give priority to building materials from local firms.

“At least 30 percent of the engineering and construction work will be undertaken by local contractors to ensure the ECRL construction benefits locals.

About 70 percent of the workforce will be sourced locally with the rest from China and other Asian countries. Some of the 2,700 staff members are currently working at various sites across the east coast states,” he added.

- Bernama