SHANGHAI Sept 22, 2026 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim attended the opening ceremony of the 48th WorldSkills Competition on Tuesday night and congratulated Malaysia’s 22 young competitors, saying they represent the country’s finest technical and vocational talent.
Anwar, who is on a three-day working visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou at China’s invitation, watched the Parade of Nations at the Shanghai World Expo Cultural Center alongside Chinese Premier Li Qiang. He described the Malaysian contingent raising the Jalur Gemilang as a moment of national pride.
“Kudos to our 22 youths who embody the nation’s finest talent in the TVET field while proudly and confidently holding high the Jalur Gemilang flag,” Anwar posted after the ceremony. He added that the team would compete against participants from more than 60 countries in 21 skill categories and expressed hope their efforts would produce gold medals for Malaysia.
The biennial event, often called the “Skills Olympics,” runs from 22 to 27 September 2026, with official competitions from 23 to 26 September at the National Exhibition and Convention Center. It features a record 64 skill categories and more than 1,400 young competitors from around 70 countries and regions.
Malaysia, a WorldSkills member since 1992, sent an 82-member contingent led by Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan as Chef de Mission. The 22 competitors are targeting the country’s first-ever gold medal under a “Road to Gold” campaign. Categories include manufacturing and engineering, information and communications technology, construction, and creative arts and fashion.
Officials noted this is the first time a Malaysian prime minister has attended the global competition in person. When the Malaysian team entered the arena in traditional attire, Li Qiang tapped Anwar’s shoulder to draw his attention; Anwar responded with a thumbs-up and wave.
Anwar’s visit also includes a keynote at the WorldSkills Conference, the fifth Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou (where Malaysia is a guest of honour), and a high-level meeting with Li Qiang later in the week. The trip focuses on TVET cooperation, digital economy ties, and broader Malaysia-China relations.
Competitions begin Wednesday. Malaysian officials have said the young team has prepared intensively and will now test its skills on the world stage.
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