Against the odds: Wan Hamiz Ozai carries Malaysia’s rail hopes into WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 contest

Wan Hamiz Ozai Wan Hamidzi, a 20-year-old Diploma student in Rail Systems Engineering Technology from Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Italy Design Institute, is representing Malaysia in Rail Vehicle Technology at the WorldSkills Competition (WSC) Shanghai 2026.

Originating from Butterworth, his passion for rail systems was sparked during his school days and further invigorated by projects like the East Coast Rail Link.

His journey, supported by his coach, reflects nearly three years of intensive preparation and participation in national competitions, positioning him as an enthusiastic competitor on the global stage.

Despite facing experienced international rivals, Wan Hamiz's dedication and guidance from his coach amplify hopes for a favorable performance.

SHANGHAI, Sept 26 — His passion for rail transport systems has taken Wan Hamiz Ozai Wan Hamidzi, 20, to the world stage.

The Diploma in Rail Systems Engineering Technology student at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI) is representing Malaysia in Rail Vehicle Technology at the WorldSkills Competition (WSC) Shanghai 2026.

The Butterworth, Penang native said his interest in the field began while he was still in school, while exposure to major rail projects such as the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) further fuelled his ambition to become a specialist in the sector.

“From the time I applied for the railway systems course, I wanted to become a specialist in the field. I went to secondary school in Pahang, so at that time there were many projects such as the ECRL and Mutiara Line,” he told Bernama.

He said nearly three years of preparation had equipped him to balance electrical and mechanical skills required for the competition, held at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) here.

Despite feeling slightly nervous about competing on the international stage against countries with established technical expertise, Wan Hamiz Ozai said continuous guidance from experts and coaches had boosted his confidence.

The former Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) student began his WorldSkills journey as a technical assistant at the WorldSkills Malaysia University Challenge (WSUC) in 2023, before becoming a participant in the 2024 and 2025 editions.

His coach, UniKL MIDI Rail Engineering Technology lecturer Mohd Firdaus Hassan, said Wan Hamiz Ozai’s natural talent and interest in the field were evident in the classroom.

He said these qualities provided a strong foundation for developing the technical skills needed for the competition.

“From the classroom, we could see his interest and guided him to become a technical person first. He started as a workshop assistant during WorldSkills Malaysia. From there, we saw his potential and then guided him to become a participant,” he said.

Mohd Firdaus said interest was a key factor in developing TVET participants, as technical skills could be acquired through structured training.

On the international competition, he described the Malaysian contingent as an underdog against host China, which had an advantage in terms of equipment and technical expertise.

“Here, we are the underdogs, mainly because all the equipment is from China and the technical personnel are also from China.

“But after being here for three days, which is the competition period for this category, I would say not to underestimate what he can do. I believe there may be a positive outcome,” he said.

Wan Hamiz Ozai is among 22 young Malaysians competing in 21 internationally recognised skills at WSC Shanghai 2026, which brings together 1,400 top young skilled professionals from more than 65 countries and regions. — Bernama

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Wan Hamiz Ozai Wan Hamidzi 是吉隆坡大学马来西亚意大利设计学院轨道系统工程技术文凭生，20 岁，代表马来西亚参加 2026 年上海世界技能大赛 (WSC) 的轨道车辆技术项目。

他出生于巴特沃斯，学生时代就对铁路系统产生了浓厚的兴趣，而东海岸铁路连接线等项目更是进一步激发了他的热情。

在他的教练的支持下，他经历了近三年的刻苦训练和参加全国比赛，这使他成为全球舞台上充满热情的竞争者。

尽管面对经验丰富的国际对手，但万·哈米兹的奉献精神和教练的指导，让人们对他取得好成绩充满希望。

上海，9月26日——20岁的万·哈米兹·奥扎伊·万·哈米兹对轨道交通系统的热情，使他走向了世界舞台。

马来西亚吉隆坡大学意大利设计学院 (UniKL MIDI) 铁路系统工程技术文凭课程的学生代表马来西亚参加 2026 年上海世界技能大赛 (WSC) 的铁路车辆技术项目。

这位来自槟城北海的工程师表示，他对铁路领域的兴趣始于学生时代，而接触到东海岸铁路（ECRL）等大型铁路项目，进一步激发了他成为该领域专家的雄心。

“从我申请铁路系统课程的那一刻起，我就想成为这个领域的专家。我在彭亨州读中学，当时有很多项目正在进行，比如东海岸铁路和珍珠线，”他告诉马新社。

他说，经过近三年的准备，他已经具备了参加此次比赛所需的电气和机械技能，比赛在国家展览会议中心（NECC）举行。

尽管对在国际舞台上与拥有成熟技术实力的国家竞争感到有些紧张，但万·哈米兹·奥扎伊表示，专家和教练的不断指导增强了他的信心。

这位前马来西亚玛拉初级理科学院 (MRSM) 的学生于 2023 年以技术助理的身份参加了马来西亚世界技能大赛 (WSUC)，开启了他的世界技能大赛之旅，之后又参加了 2024 年和 2025 年的比赛。

他的教练，吉隆坡大学MIDI铁路工程技术讲师Mohd Firdaus Hassan表示，Wan Hamiz Ozai在该领域的天赋和兴趣在课堂上显而易见。

他表示，这些素质为培养参加比赛所需的技术技能奠定了坚实的基础。

“从课堂上，我们就看出他的兴趣，并引导他先成为一名技术人员。他最初在马来西亚世界技能大赛中担任工作坊助理。从那时起，我们看到了他的潜力，然后引导他成为一名参赛选手，”他说。

莫哈末·菲尔道斯表示，兴趣是发展职业技术教育与培训参与者的关键因素，因为技术技能可以通过结构化的培训获得。

在谈到国际比赛时，他形容马来西亚代表团面对东道主中国队处于劣势，中国队在设备和技术专长方面都具有优势。

“在这里，我们是弱势一方，主要是因为所有的设备都来自中国，技术人员也来自中国。”

“但是，经过三天的观察，也就是这个组别的比赛周期，我认为不要低估他的能力。我相信可能会有好的结果，”他说。

万·哈米兹·奥扎伊是参加2026年上海世界技能大赛的22名马来西亚青年选手之一，他们将在21项国际认可的技能项目中展开角逐。该赛事汇聚了来自65个国家和地区的1400名顶尖青年技能人才。——马新社

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