EMPOWERING ASNAF: RHB ISLAMIC & PAHANG SKILLS PREPARE FUTURE ECRL TRAIN PILOTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- RHB Islamic Bank Berhad (“RHB Islamic” or “the Bank”) has entered into a strategic collaboration with the Pahang Skills Development Centre (Pahang Skills) to empower youth from asnaf and B40 communities through the East Coast Rail Link Industrial Skills Training (PLKI-ECRL) Upskilling Program.
 
The ceremony to mark the collaboration saw a presentation of RM265,500 from RHB Islamic to Pahang Skills, witnessed by YAB Dato’ Sri Diraja Haji Wan Rosdy bin Wan Ismail, Chief Minister of Pahang Darul Makmur. The allocation will be utilised to fund a cohort of 15 participants to undergo intensive training to become ECRL Assistant Train Pilots.
 
The PLKI-ECRL Upskilling Program is a five-month full-time course designed to provide a clear career pathway in the rail industry. A significant aspect of this initiative is the specialised training conducted at the Liuzhou Railway Vocational Technical College (LRVTC) located in China. Participants will gain technical expertise in electric multiple units (EMU) and locomotive systems, rail safety, standard operating procedures as well as relevant soft skills, among other vital knowledge.
 
Participants who successfully complete the training will be offered employment opportunities by the ECRL operator, initiating their career pathway in the industry.
 
Dato’ Adissadikin Ali, Managing Director of RHB Islamic Bank Berhad, said, “At RHB Islamic, we are committed to creating inclusive opportunities through the mobilisation of Islamic social capital, particularly zakat. This partnership supports the national ECRL agenda by developing a skilled talent pipeline for the rail and transportation sector and is intended to form part of the iTEKAD Employment initiative under Bank Negara Malaysia, providing structured skills development, financial literacy and sustainable employment pathways for the community.”
 
Pahang Skills, an entity under the State Government of Pahang, will identify and screen potential participants in accordance with the prescribed eligibility criteria, coordinate and oversee the training program, and facilitate employment arrangements for participants upon successful completion of the training.
 
Dato Mas’ut bin Awang Samah, Pahang Skills Chairman, said, “We are proud to be partnering RHB Islamic for this program that bridges the gap between the asnaf and B40 communities and high-income employment in a critical national infrastructure project. We look forward to playing our part in this partnership, helping the participants gain valuable knowledge on their way to becoming successful pilots. This would truly uplift their families back home.”
 
The collaboration leverages LRVTC’s reputation for its role in producing skilled technical and operational talent for rail operators, ensuring that the Malaysian participants return with strong competencies. Through this partnership, the RHB Banking Group continues to strengthen its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) footprint, in line with its PROGRESS27 corporate strategy objective of becoming a responsible and purposeful financial institution.

SOURCE: RHB Islamic Bank Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Nishanthi Palani
Vice President, Group Corporate Communications
Email: nishanthi.palani@rhbgroup.com

--BERNAMA