Early days

University of Malaya was founded on 28 September 1905 in Singapore as the King Edward VII College of Medicine and on 8th October 1949, it became the University of Malaya with the merger of the King Edward VII College of Medicine and Raffles College (founded in 1928). The Dental Department at the King Edward VII College of Medicine was officially opened in 1927.

Between 1949-1961, the Department of Dentistry, University of Malaya was in Singapore. A total of 163 students graduated with BDS (Malaya) degree when University of Malaya was in Singapore. Some of them later became the lecturers, Head of Departments and Professors at the new Dental Faculty, University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

19th April 1961
Paragraph 32 of the Report of the Board of Studies on the establishment of the Medical Faculty in Kuala Lumpur agreed that ultimately the Course in Dentistry should be provided in Kuala Lumpur.

7th November 1966


Paper submitted by Dean of Medicine at the request of Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health
 with the
 Recommendation to the Senate that a Board of Studies should be appointed to consider the feasibility of establishing a dentistry course in University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur.

14 December 1966
Dean and Members of Medical Faculty at the Faculty meeting agreed a Board of studies for the dentistry course should be set up (Min.99(2))

30 December 1966


The Senate of the University of Malaya made the decision to appoint a Board of Studies on Dentistry in accordance with Statute XII University of Malaya on the establishment of the Board of Studies. The Board, which was subsequently established, recommended the establishment of a Dental Faculty in Kuala Lumpur -Senate Minute 497 (2).

10th May 1967
Report Course in Dentistry FMC-575/66 by Dean, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Malaya

24th May 1967
1st Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry
Chaired by The Vice Chancellor, Professor J H E Griffiths (on secondment from University of Oxford).
Attended by Dean Faculty of Medicine, Director of Medical Services,
Dr Ibrahim Mohd Yassin and other members of the board.

5th June 1967
Working Paper on Dental School at University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur by
the Dental Association

22nd June 1967
2nd Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry
Chaired by The Vice Chancellor, Professor J H E Griffiths
Attended by Professor A S Prophet and Board Members

8th June 1967
Report on Dental Education in Malaysia (157/69) by Professor A S Prophet
Professor of Dental Surgery, & Director of Dental Studies
University College Hospital Medical School, University of London
 
4th July 1967
3rd Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry
Chaired by The Vice Chancellor, Professor J H E Griffiths
Attended by Professor A S Prophet and Board Members

15th April 1970
4th Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry
 
24th April 1970
5th Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry
 
8th May 1970
6th Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry
 
27th May 1970
7th Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry

10th July 1970
Memorandum on Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya by
University of Malaya Medical Society
 
14th July 1970
8th Meeting of the Board of Studies on Dentistry

1970
Report of the Board of Studies based on all the reports and meetings agreed for the establishment of
Faculty of Dentistry in the University of Malaya.

November 1971
An Administrative Dean, Professor Dr Ibrahim Yassin Al-Haj was appointed and entrusted with the
responsibility for the planning and the development of the new Dental Faculty in Kuala Lumpur.

May 1972
The first batch of thirty-two students was admitted to the first year dental course.

Nov 1973
The foundation stone was laid by The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, Dato’ Hussein Onn

19 May 1975
The Dental Faculty Complex was officiated by The Honourable Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak bin Dato’ Hussein

1994
Started a Postgraduate Master of Community Dentistry Programme

1995
Launched Orofacial Pain Unit & the Unit of Implantology

1996
Started a Master of Dental Science Programme

1998
The General Dental Council (GDC) of Great Britain recognized the BDS degree of University of Malaya