KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) and Institute of Materials Malaysia (IMM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today on a thermit welding certification programme — a specialised field in rail engineering.

The programme would be the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific, said Prasarana president and chief executive officer Datuk Mohamed Hazlan Mohamed Hussain.

He said the programme allowed the public transport operator to certify its highly experienced staff specialising in thermit welding, thus paving the way for better career progression and higher remunerations.

“The MoU also provides a strong platform for Prasarana to position its newly-formed Prasarana Centre of Excellence (PACE) as the centre of reference and prestigious training provider, not only in Malaysia but also at the international level.

“Prasarana has high expectations of PACE, which was established last year to provide and develop a comprehensive and holistic consultancy, training and human capital development towards maximising people potential for industry excellence,” he said, adding that this was the company’s first collaboration with IMM.

The three-year MoU also recognised PACE as IMM’s Appointed Training Body (ATB) for the thermit welding training programme.

Under the MoU, PACE will conduct four certification programmes for thermit welding — Certification Programme in Thermit Welding Practitioner; Certification Programme in Thermit Welding Supervisor; Certification Programme in Thermit Welding Inspector; and Certification Programme in Thermit Welding Specialist.

At the signing, Prasarana was represented by Mohamed Hazlan while IMM was represented by its president Mohd Azmi Mohd Noor, witnessed by Prasarana group chief operating officer (operations) Muhammad Nizam Alias and IMM deputy president Datuk Dr Ir Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah.

Meanwhile, Mohd Azmi said IMM welding committee and Prasarana would be working hand in hand to develop a certification scheme for thermit welding practitioners and thermit welding inspectors to satisfy the current railway workforce needs.

“Both parties will co-develop a national standard on thermit welding for railways,” he added.[Source: “Prasarana, IMM ink MoU on thermit welding certification programme” published by The Edge Communications Sdn. Bhd.]

Source : https://startupborneo.my/prasarana-imm-ink-mou-on-thermit-welding-certification-programme/