KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The first group of future maintenance workers for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), will soon head to China for specialized training, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said here on Tuesday.

A total of 210 trainees are scheduled to leave on May 15. They will receive training in theoretical and practical aspects and gain real-world experience in operating rail systems, Loke said in a ceremony marking the launch and submission of Industrial Skills Training Program offer letters for the ECRL operations and maintenance phase.

"Developing physical infrastructure is important to ensure we do not overly rely on external expertise in the long term. Our priority is to ensure job opportunities for our local talent," he said, adding that the trainees who complete the program will be guaranteed employment with the ECRL.

For his part, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia needs to build domestic economic resilience by enhancing knowledge and expertise among its youth to better face global challenges.

"Although we use foreign technologies, we must seek new methods, and this depends on our young people. With clear policies, it means we rely more on our abilities to revitalize local businesses, management and expertise," he said at the ceremony.

The ECRL runs from Malaysia's largest transport hub, Port Klang, and travels across the peninsula to Kelantan state in northeastern Malaysia.

The rail link is expected to greatly enhance connectivity and bring more balanced growth to the country by linking its less-developed region on the east coast to the economic heartland on the west coast upon its completion.■