In today’s fast-paced world, it is rare to see true acts of compassion, but one man’s simple gesture recently reminded many Malaysians that kindness still exists.
A 17-year-old Orang Asli girl found herself in an incredibly difficult situation after losing her mother to cancer at the National Cancer Institute (IKN) in Putrajaya. With no family members by her side at the time and her father travelling from Pekan, Pahang, to be with her, the teenager was left to grieve alone in an unfamiliar city.
That was when community activist Kuan Chee Heng, better known as Uncle Kentang, stepped in to help. After learning about the girl’s situation, he made a heartfelt decision to bring her into his own home rather than leave her alone in a hotel room.
“I didn’t want to put her in a hotel, not when she’s going through this alone,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “At least in my house, my wife, daughter and helper can be there for her, and she’ll have food and someone to talk to.”
On 7 July, the young girl followed Uncle Kentang home, where she was given a safe place to stay for the night. His family prepared meals for her and made sure she was cared for until the next morning.
The following day, they brought her back to IKN, where the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) had arranged for their team from Pekan to assist with her mother’s funeral arrangements.
昨天当这个原住民女孩母亲的遗体被推入太平间时，她单独一人面对，因此，国家癌症中心的社会工作部门（JKSP...
Posted by 马铃薯叔叔日志 Uncle Kentang on Tuesday 8 July 2025
“I’ll help in any way I can,” Uncle Kentang added in his post, thanking the IKN social department for stepping in to support the girl during such a heartbreaking moment.
In a time of loss and loneliness, this young girl found warmth and comfort in the home of a stranger. And sometimes, that kind of human connection makes all the difference.
Thank you, Uncle Kentang, your kindness is inspiring!
