Sarawak Metro celebrates 16 graduates of Young Talent Programme

KUCHING (Feb 20): Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd recently celebrated the graduation of 16 apprentices from its Young Talent Programme (YTP), marking another milestone in the development of local engineering talent for Sarawak’s public transport industry.

In a statement, Sarawak Metro said these graduates formed the third cohort to complete the rigorous two-year apprenticeship under the company’s Socio-Economic Enhancement Development (SEED) programme.

Since its introduction in 2021, the YTP has trained 41 young local engineers, with another 17 currently undergoing training and scheduled to complete the programme by year-end.

All 16 graduates have now joined Sarawak Metro as full-time employees.

At the graduation ceremony, chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa congratulated the apprentices and expressed pride in their achievement.

“Completing a two-year apprenticeship is no small feat, and I salute you all for your perseverance, commitment and diligence.

“Today is not only a celebration of your achievements, but also a new beginning as you join Sarawak Metro’s professional workforce.

“As the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project enters a critical stage, your role will be significant in ensuring its successful and timely implementation,” he said.

Mazli also acknowledged the strong mentorship provided by experienced engineers and specialists, noting that knowledge transfer and professional guidance were key pillars of the programme’s success.

SEED programme director Alexius Barieng highlighted the broader impact of the initiative, describing the graduates as a diverse and highly specialised group trained in integration, sustainability, safety and digitalisation.

“They are not just supporting the project, they are helping to shape the future of urban mobility in Sarawak.

“Their journey reflects Sarawak Metro’s commitment to developing industry-ready and globally exposed talent for this new transportation ecosystem,” he said.

Certificates and specially designed jackets were presented to the graduates, while Afiqah Mohammed Yunus received the Best Apprentice Award and Ahmad Yusri Ahmad Yusuf received the Best Mentor Award.

Throughout the programme, apprentices underwent extensive hands-on training across multiple technical disciplines, including rolling stock, civil works, operations engineering, signalling and communications systems, hydrogen feeder bus systems and systems assurance.

They also gained exposure to key milestones of the KUTS project, such as first article inspections, factory acceptance tests, post-installation check-outs and pre-delivery inspections.

Selected apprentices further gained industry exposure through attachments with original equipment manufacturers, participating in preliminary design reviews and prototype testing of Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen vehicles, which will form the backbone of the KUTS project.