Semenyih: Uncle Kentang pledges space for smokers in restaurants

SEMENYIH: Independent candidate Kuan Chee Heng has pledged to ensure that smokers are given a safe spot to smoke in restaurants in light of what he claims are dwindling sales in eateries.

Kuan, a non-smoker, said coffee shops were “half-dead” following the smoking ban by the government.

He stressed that smokers had rights too.

“Coffee shops are half dead. There is no business.  The Chinese like to patronise coffee shops in the afternoon and have a chat.

"At my age, I want to see my friends. They drink coffee while smoking, and drinking beers while smoking,” he added.

The 56-year-old former policeman, who has previously appeared in local media for his charitable endeavours as the "10 sen Man", was speaking to reporters after launching his “war truck” for the Semenyih by-election campaign on Friday (Feb 22).

Fondly known as “Uncle Kentang”, Kuan said he supported the government’s move to ban smoking in restaurants. However, he said such a move must take into consideration the current economic climate.

“Before cigarettes die, business will die first. So who will suffer?

"We support the smoking ban. But please give some leeway,” he said.

Kuan’s other election pledges include extending his ambulance and 10 sen taxi service to ease the financial burden of the poor and needy.

He also pledged to provide free food to every place of worship so that the impoverished would never be hungry.

“If I win, I will make sure that the suraus, Hindu and Buddhist temples and churches are stacked with food so people can just take the food.

“There is no need to fill in any forms,” he said.

Kuan said with his election campaign having officially kicked off on Friday (Feb 22) after the launch of his “war truck”, he would try to reach out to as many locals as possible.

“I’m here not to play politics, but to find the poor people. In fact, we will come back again after the elections to make sure that the poor, bed-ridden and the unemployed are assisted,” he said.

“I’m already close to 60. How many more years I have got left?

"I don’t know. So, let’s live our lives fully. It’s not about politics. I’m here to help the people,” he added.

The Semenyih polls on March 2 is set to see a four-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, Parti Sosialis Malaysia and Kuan.