Datuk Seri Ling Liong Sik said a medical college can be set up immediately if the Government gives the permission to use one of its hospitals as UTAR's teaching hospital.

Although Dr. Mahathir has yet to make a final decision on the proposal, Dr. Ling is quite confident of a positive answer from the Prime Minister.

"Our plan is for students learning pure science subjects at the main campus to be in the hospital for lectures and be with the patients for practical work," Dr. Ling said.

He expected the tuition fees for medical courses at UTAR to be lower than those charged by private universities.