Community Policing founder reveals plans to contest Semenyih by-election.
The Malaysian Society of Community Policing (CP) president Kuan Chee Heng, better known as “Uncle Kentang” will contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming Semenyih by-election.
Kuan earned his “Uncle Kentang” moniker several years ago after he distributed free potatoes to lower-income households in Puchong.
“I am not joining politics to be a politician. I am standing as an independent candidate to make the rakyat’s lives better,” he said.
“If I win, I will not take even one sen of my salary (as state assemblyperson). That salary belongs to the people and God will repay me my salary,” he added.
According to Sinar Harian, Kuan made the decision for the “future of Semenyih’s children”.
He added that he would implement several initiatives in Semenyih as was done in the Puchong area if he is elected, the Malay daily reported.
“I see that Semenyih’s children need basic services like ‘Taxi 10 sen’, hearses and ambulances as the area is located quite far from the Kajang Hospital.
He said he was disappointed that many candidates who made many promises in previous by-elections went “missing” after the by-elections and ignored voters.
He added that Malaysians are generally disappointed with Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) for not fulfilling their promises. Those who voted for them got “nothing in the end”.
He lamented that politicians, after getting elected, drive better cars but “the poor remain poor”.
Kuan was in the police force from 1986 to 1991 before leaving to become a florist for 18 years.
He founded CP Malaysia in 2007 and the association now has more than 100,000 members nationwide.
Also known as the “10-sen man”, Kuan has set up initiatives such as a 10-sen flea market, 10-sen ambulance service and 10-sen taxi to alleviate the financial burden of the poor and needy.
CP Malaysia also runs a shelter at RM1 for the poor who travel from outstation to receive treatment at the government hospitals.
A 10-sen library is another initiative that Kuan’s NGO undertook for children from underprivileged families.
“Any aspiring candidate in Semenyih should offer the same services that I offer, if not better, to contest,” he said.
The Semenyih state seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent assemblyman, Bakhtiar Mohd Nor, on Jan 11 from a heart attack. He was 57.
In the 14th general election, Bakhtiar defeated BN, PAS and Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) in a four-cornered fight, with a majority of 8,964 votes. He garnered 23,428 votes.
Aside from PH and BN, PSM is also expected to field either its central committee member S Arutchelvan – who contested and lost the seat in the last three general elections – or first-timer Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul.
Bersatu will likely field its acting Hulu Langat division chief Rais Zulkifli in the by-election while Umno has yet to announce a candidate.
Nomination day is on Feb 16.