Taman Manggis dental centre to start next year

BUTTERWORTH: The proposed Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC) project at the controversial Taman Manggis site is expected to start early next year.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the development was part of the move to expand medical and dental services in Penang.
He said the medical facilities with teaching faculties could provide students studying medicine a chance to hone their skills.
"Practical training is everything in medicine," he said.
The project in George Town has seen the Penang government and state opposition engaged in war of words after the administration was accused of selling the land which was alleged to have been originally earmarked for a People's Housing Project (PPR).
Asked about objections raised during the 2012 arguments surrounding the 0.45ha plot, Lim again dismissed the allegation.
"No point relaying all this misinformation, we have presented to the voters and the voters have spoken so the matter has concluded," he told a press conference after attending the Penang Island Dental College (PIDC) groundbreaking ceremony here today.
The RM55million PIDC is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and the 15,793sq m facility will house a 200-chair dental hospital, resource centre, hostel and recreational facilities.
PIDC managing director Datuk Dr S. Sharavanan said the facility would incorporate the best designs from New Zealand, New York and Universiti Malaya (UM).
"This will benefit Penang, Butterworth and the northern region," he said, adding PIDC had provided subsidised and free dental treatment to the community.