Uncle Kentang aka Mr. Kuan Chee Heng is the person many rely on for assistance. He often becomes the bridge for people; either to ask for help or to offer help. However, after a fiasco earlier this week, Mr. Kuan’s organisation may just be in trouble.
Netizens doubted Mr. Kuan’s charity when he supposedly sold a woman, who owned branded items, a car for RM1. He justified his actions, but it seems the issue isn’t over. Netizens have started to wonder where their donations are going exactly. Recently, Mr. Kuan had a press conference with China Press to clear up matters.
To begin with, some had been questioning why disbursement of their donations had been so slow. Mr. Kuan explained that his team were inexperienced in processing donations, and that they had procedures to follow such as reviewing each beneficiary’s eligibility. “It’s being done in stages,” he reportedly said. However, he did apologise for the lengthy processing.
Additionally, he touched on why they needed so much money. Mr. Kuan claimed that he often received over fifty to sixty calls a day, all asking for help in one form or another. “If I want to help them, I need to raise money externally,” he stated. “Then I will be scolded by netizens because I keep raising money.”
He also stressed that he wasn’t the one saving people, it is actually the donors. “The money you donate is used to save people,” Mr. Kuan said. “I am just your bridge.” Mr. Kuan shared how much his organisation spends on operating expenses per month. It’s apparently about RM200,000; for maintenance of the ambulances, and his staff of seventy.
With all the doubt about, Mr. Kuan has apparently been receiving antagonistic messages on their Facebook pages. However, his team has been working to block and delete said messages. This of course, caused more ire as netizens felt they were being silenced. Mr. Kuan then explained that the messages may “disturb” other netizens, especially if their concerns weren’t communicated rationally.
However, he has clearly been reading them as he brought up two other points to address. Apparently, some netizens feel that he has been selective with his help. They pointed out that he favours the Malays because they get the most help. Mr. Kuan disagreed. “I help many Malays because the Malay population is relatively large,” he told China Press. “I dare to tell you that there is no such thing (as favourtism).” He also explained that he doesn’t always respond to messages in Chinese because he cannot read Chinese. Usually he will have a few people to help, but there are times when they are not available.
Some have also alleged that Mr. Kuan helps others with a hidden motive. Apparently, they believe he is attempting to win people’s hearts so that he can pave the way for his success in the general election. It doesn’t help that he has contested in the 2019 Semenyih election. However, Mr. Kuan had simply seen it as another way to help people. “But, at this stage,” he stated. “I have no such plans.”
Mr. Kuan has done a lot to help people, such as by building a 10 cents shop, and donating mattresses. However, for once, actions do not speak louder than words, or in this case, numbers. Netizens are still asking to see the accounts for themselves, with some saying he needs an auditor. Others have suggested he register his organisation under ROS, as they do not trust his personal account anymore.
Yet, he hasn’t let that stop him. His Facebook page is still active and there are still people who appreciate his work. However, the same cannot be said for his donors. Only time will tell if these allegations will leave a mark, or if will they fade away in obscurity.
