‘Uncle Kentang’ apologises to cops over FB post on RM10,000 compound

Social activist Kuan Chee Heng has apologised to the police over a Facebook post on a RM10,000 compound issued to a third party which turned out to be false.

Ipoh district police chief A Asmadi Abdul Aziz said they had received a letter of apology from Kuan, better known as “Uncle Kentang”.

“He (Kuan) clarified that he had received information from the mother of the individual who was said to have been issued a RM10,000 compound fine and hoped that the police could assist. But investigations found the claim to be untrue.

“The individual was only trying to dupe his mother to avoid sending her money,” he said when met by reporters after attending an event today.

The post, uploaded on Kuan’s Facebook, was also shared on the account of former prime minister Najib Razak and received much public attention.

The post said that a compound for flouting conditional movement control order (CMCO) SOPs was issued in Kampung Rapat, Ipoh, on March 14.

It claimed that an assistant cook was issued a RM10,000 compound after he stepped out of the back door of a restaurant for a smoke, and that he could not send money to his mother because his salary was being deducted by the restaurant which had settled it.

However, A Asmadi said checks had found that no such compound was issued by the CMCO SOP inspection team in the district.

He said the police were keeping an open mind about the letter of apology but urged the public not to make matters that are untrue viral, saying this would have a negative impact on the police and affect their commitment to giving their best.