Shanghai:His passion for rail transport systems has brought Wan Hamiz Ozai Wan Hamidzi, a 20-year-old from Butterworth, Penang, to the international stage. He is representing Malaysia in Rail Vehicle Technology at the WorldSkills Competition (WSC) Shanghai 2026.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wan Hamiz Ozai, a student of Rail Systems Engineering Technology at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Italy Design Institute (UniKL MIDI), has been preparing for nearly three years to compete on this global platform. Despite feeling slightly nervous about facing countries with established technical expertise, he is confident due to continuous guidance from experts and coaches.
His interest in rail systems began during his school years and grew with exposure to major projects like the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Mutiara Line. He initially participated in the WorldSkills Malaysia University Challenge (WSUC) as a technical assistant in 2023, advancing to become a participant in subsequent editions.
Mohd Firdaus Hassan, his coach and UniKL MIDI Rail Engineering Technology lecturer, recognized Wan Hamiz Ozai's natural talent and interest early on. He emphasized that these attributes provided a solid foundation for honing the technical skills necessary for the competition.
The Malaysian contingent is seen as underdogs in the competition, mainly due to the host country's advantage in equipment and technical expertise. However, Mohd Firdaus expressed optimism about their potential success, highlighting that interest and structured training can develop the technical skills needed to excel.
Wan Hamiz Ozai is among 22 young Malaysians competing in 21 internationally recognized skills at WSC Shanghai 2026, which features 1,400 top skilled professionals from over 65 countries and regions.