SIBU: The Malaysian Dental Council (MDC)’s explanation on the non-recognition of seven Taiwanese dental schools has not gone down well with the SUPP Education Bureau.
Bureau chairman Ding Kuong Hiing described MDC president Datuk Noor Hisham Abdullah’s reply as ‘shocking’ and confirmed the predicaments faced by graduates from the seven dental schools in seeking registration with the
council are true.
“But what is most shocking to the public and the SUPP Education Bureau is that the MDC president revealed for the first time that the council had never recognised the seven dental schools,” he said here yesterday.
Ding added that Noor Hisham’s reply was “extremely shocking” not only to SUPP Education Bureau but the public as well, particularly to the current dental students, dental graduates and parents.
“The reply contradicts public knowledge that the seven dental schools in question have always been recognised by the MDC.
“His statement is devastating to parents whose children are contemplating to study or are still studying dentistry in Taiwan which not only provides high quality education but also offers affordable tuition fees to most Malaysians. They are left in a limbo now,” said Ding.
He added that it was an undisputed fact that in 1996, MDC and the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) had conducted studies on the medical and dental courses in Taiwan. These degrees were fully recognised after a study tour of the seven dental and
medical schools in 1996.
“It is also an undisputed fact that medical degrees from the seven medical schools were gazetted by the MMC under the second schedule of the Medical Act, 1971.
“Hence, MDC owes the public an explanation as to why the recognition of the seven dental schools was not gazetted immediately after the study tour in 1996.
“It is also an undisputed fact that former Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai summoned a meeting with MDC on October 4, 2012. The meeting was widely reported in the local newspapers.”
A picture taken at the meeting showed Liow, the registrar, senior officers of MDC and the deputy president of the United Taiwan Alumnus among those present.
“The then health minister directed the MDC to include the seven dental schools concerned into the second schedule of the Dental Act, 1971. Under the said Act, the health minister had the power to give a directive on grounds that the accreditations were successfully done in 1996.
“The reply by Datuk Dr Noor Hisham indicated that from 2012 until now, the MDC never executed the lawful directive of the then health minister to fully recognise the seven dental schools in Taiwan. By refusing to execute the said lawful directive, MDC, which is under the purview of the Ministry of Health, did not and does not show any respect to the health minister of the day,” he said.
Ding also said that if the SUPP Education Bureau did not disclose the unfair policy to the public, it is highly likely that MDC will continue to keep the non-recognition of these seven dental schools in Taiwan as a secret forever.
This is also the first time that the public is officially informed that the recognition of a dental qualification is divided between Section12 (3) and Section 12(9) under the repealed Dental Act, 1971.
“The public was and is never informed of such differences. The MDC must explain to the public what the differences between Section 12(3) and Section 12(9) are,” he added.
As public interest is involved, Dind said MDC must issue guidelines as to how dental graduates from the seven dental schools can apply for registration accordingly.
“It is also extremely unprofessional for the MDC to make such an abrupt disclosure only after the SUPP Education Bureau had made the press statement disclosing the predicaments faced by the dental graduates and students of the seven dental schools in Taiwan to seek registration with the MDC.”
The bureau urged the PH government, particularly the health minister, to find a fair solution or else the decision would adversely affect the future and welfare of the dental graduates and students from the seven dental schools in Taiwan.
It also urged the Malaysian Dongzong, United Chinese Association and United Taiwan Alumnus to monitor the case expeditiously.
“They must meet and discuss the matter with the present Health Minister for a fair and acceptable solution,” he added.
