Kuala lumpur: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has pledged to sponsor umrah pilgrimages for participants who win gold medals at the WorldSkills Competition (WSC) 2026 in Shanghai, China, from Sept 22 to 27.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, stated that the reward for participants from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions under the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) would be fully funded from his personal funds as a token of appreciation.

"Whoever wins a gold medal at WorldSkills, I will not only sponsor the participant's umrah pilgrimage, but I will also sponsor their parents," he declared during his address to the TVET@KKDW contingent for WorldSkills 2026. He added, "This is my promise. If all nine participants win gold medals, I will send all nine of them and their parents to perform umrah." Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang was also present at the event.

The TVET@KKDW contingent to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 comprises nine participants competing in nine skill categories. Participants include Nadratulliyana Ab Malek in Fashion Technology, Haziq Syahmi Nazri in Automobile Painting, Amirul Sharif Sharifudin in Electronics, Mohammad Ezaly Iman Ramli in Cyber Security, and Wan Hamiz Ozai Wan Hamidzi in Rail Vehicle Technology.

Additional representatives from Malaysia are Khairul Idham Bahari in Cabinetmaking, Muhamad Nashrul Zulkifli in Digital Construction, Muhammad Haziq Lailla Zamri in Electrical Installations, and Muhammad Huzairy Mohamad Thes in Mechanical Engineering CAD.