Malaysia’s railway ecosystem took centre stage on 10 December 2025, as industry leaders, policymakers, and academics gathered at Element Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysia Rail Industry Corporation (MARIC) Gala Dinner 2025, themed The Grand Railway SOIRÉE. More than a celebratory occasion, the event reflected a growing alignment across the sector as Malaysia accelerates its rail modernisation agenda.

The gala brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, rail operators, manufacturers, technology providers, and educational institutions. It served as a platform to recognise industry achievements, strengthen partnerships, and reaffirm a shared commitment to innovation and talent development within the national rail ecosystem.

Opening the evening, Deputy Minister of Transport YB Datuk Haji Hasbi bin Haji Habibollah underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between policymakers, industry players, and academia.

“The success of our rail ambitions depends not only on infrastructure, but on strong collaboration between government, industry, and academia,” he said. His remarks echoed a broader national priority: ensuring that infrastructure investment is matched by local capability-building, particularly as rail systems become increasingly digital, automated, and data-driven.

Delivering the keynote address, MARIC President Dr. Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, F.CLT, emphasised that Malaysia’s rail ambitions can only be realised through close collaboration across all pillars of the ecosystem. Dr. Mohd Yusoff highlighted that such collaboration is critical not only for infrastructure delivery, but also for nurturing innovation, developing talent, and strengthening local rail capabilities.

“Malaysia has the capability to develop and deliver competitive rail solutions. Our focus now is to ensure these local innovations are recognised, trusted, and adopted both domestically and internationally,” he added.

He noted that empowering local companies reduces reliance on imports, builds long-term resilience, and positions Malaysia as a credible rail solutions provider within ASEAN and beyond.

Dr. Mohd Yusoff also expressed appreciation to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) for its role in supporting MARIC and local rail companies in their international expansion efforts. MATRADE’s facilitation of global exposure, trade missions, and export platforms has been instrumental in helping Malaysian rail firms showcase their capabilities and compete on the world stage.

The gala dinner also marked the conclusion of the 4th International Railway Forum 2025, themed “Vision Forward 2030: Leveraging AI to Advance Railway Connectivity and New Energy Transformation.”

In his address, Prof. Ir. Dr. Azman bin Senin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL), reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to industry-driven education and talent development. He stressed that Malaysia’s rail ambitions require engineers, technologists, and managers who are not only technically proficient, but also industry-ready and globally competitive.

Beyond formal speeches, the evening provided a rare opportunity for informal dialogue and networking across the rail value chain. Conversations throughout the gala reinforced a shared understanding that the challenges ahead on digital transformation, sustainability targets, workforce readiness, and funding constraints, are best addressed collectively.

The evening concluded on a note of optimism, with a clear message that the future of Malaysia’s rail sector will be built together through partnership, technology, and people.