Ambulance or college degree, 'Uncle Potato' is your make-it-happen genie

GLOWING in her commencement robe, gripping the scroll that would set her on the path to being a doctor, Lim Jia Jia’s megawatt smile carries all the pride deserved by her truck driver father and homemaker mother.

Also beaming for her was Malaysia's "Uncle Kentang (Potato)". It’s a moniker that has stuck with Kuan Chee Heng (left) since his early portly days, despite him dropping a few sizes now. The potato avatar, however, symbolises hope for kids like Jia Jia who have the dream — but not the money — to make it through college.