Sarawak Metro equips apprentices with railway expertise

KUCHING: The Industrial Competency Development Programme (ICDP), a crucial component of Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd’s initiative to enhance local talent, provided comprehensive training to apprentices, preparing them with the necessary knowledge to operate the state’s railway system.

This strategic effort is part of Sarawak Metro’s Socio-Economic Enhancement Development (SEED) programme, aligned with the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project. The ICDP aims to upskill local manpower as Sarawak moves towards modernising its public transport infrastructure.

The training, conducted from Sept 23 to 25, covered essential aspects of railway systems, including signalling, operations, power supply, automatic fare collection (AFC) systems, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA).

These topics were key in equipping the apprentices with the technical skills required for the successful implementation and operation of the KUTS project.

On the final day of training, apprentices were assessed to evaluate their understanding and competency in the topics covered.

Sarawak Metro highlighted the importance of this evaluation to ensure that participants are adequately prepared to meet the operational and maintenance demands of the KUTS project, reflecting the company’s commitment to high workforce standards.

“This assessment ensures that each participant is fully prepared to meet the operational and maintenance demands of the KUTS project, stressing the high standards that Sarawak Metro upholds in ensuring a capable workforce,” Sarawak Metro said in a press release.

The ICDP was specifically designed to address the technical and operational needs of the KUTS Project, with the goal of managing the state’s public transport system more efficiently.

“This initiative is an essential step in building local expertise and ensuring the success of the KUTS project. We hope to see similar proactive approaches from contractors in the future to ensure the success of the SEED Programme, which aims to create a pool of skilled manpower for the public transport industry,” Sarawak Metro added.