Largest UiTM dentistry faculty completed

Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) is ready to operate its Dentistry Faculty, the largest dental school in the country upon completion of its new campus building in Sungai Buloh, near here, on Aug 28.

The RM73.8 million project, which has been planned since seven years ago under the Ninth Malaysia Plan houses various facilities under one roof, including academic, clinical and administrative divisions.

UiTM vice chancellor Tan Sri Prof Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar said the faculty building was also equipped with operating theatres, wards, clinics, radiology unit, the latest research facilities, as well as Malaysia's first sterilisation and dental supply centre.

He said the faculty would also offer dental care services to people from all walks of life.

"When fully operational soon, we estimate some 205 patients can be treated at any one time with 400 to 500 patients per day," he told a press conference after the handing over of the UiTM's Dentistry Faculty building from the Works Ministry to the Higher Education Ministry here today.

The Public Works Ministry was represented by its Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, while the Higher Education Ministry by its Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

Sahol said it was hoped that the existence of the new campus could produce more competent and professional dentistry graduates in providing the best services to the community.

Earlier, Public Works Department director-general Datuk Adanan Mohamed Hussain in his speech said the initial cost for the project was RM94.4 million but there were problems with the appointed contractors who had failed to complete the project within the stipulated time.

Therefore he said, new contractors had been appointed and they managed to complete it on Aug 28 with a lower cost of RM73.8 million.