Dr Lee (fifth left), Wong (fourth right) and others gather for a group photo, following the meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
SIBU: Graduates from the seven dental schools in Taiwan affected by the non-recognition decision of the Malaysian Dental Council (MDC), can now register with the council provided that they have passed the National Dental Licensing Examination of Taiwan.
This was revealed by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong branch chairman Wong Ching Yong, who said MDC gave the allowance until 2021, following the abolishment of the 2016 order yesterday afternoon during his meeting with MDC and the Health Ministry.
The 2016 order required graduates from the affected dental schools to sit for professional qualifying examination.
The seven dental schools are Taiwan University School of Medicine, National Defense School of Medicine, Yangming University School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, China Medical University, Zhongshan Medical University, and Kaohsiung Medical University.
“With the abolishment of the said 2016 order, MDC now allows any dental graduate from the seven dental schools in Taiwan to register with MDC immediately until 2021.
“MDC also agreed that for those dental graduates of the seven dental schools in Taiwan who are in the midst of studying in USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia), they can now opt out from the course and elect immediately to register with MDC provided that they have passed the National Dental Licensing Exam of Taiwan,” he said,” he said.
Wong, who attended the meeting in Kuala Lumpur together with the members of the Federation of Alumni Association of Taiwan Universities Malaysia (FAATUM), said the federation had, however, requested that the registration period with MDC be extended until the full implementation of the Dental Act 2018.
According to him, the Dental Act 2018 provides that effective 2023, all dental graduates irrespective of where they graduated from will have to sit for a common Malaysian Dental Qualifying Examination.
“The representatives of MDC agreed to refer the request of FAATUM to the council meeting to be held on Jan 20, 2020,” he said.
Wong added that Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye had also urged graduates from the seven Taiwan dental schools who had passed the National Dental Licensing Exam but yet to register with MDC, to register with the council with immediate effect.
The decision to exclude the seven Taiwan dental schools from the list of recognised degrees by MDC was announced on its website on June 24 this year.