GEORGE TOWN: Days after posting his offer of matrimony on social media, popiah seller Tay Soon Teik is getting lots of calls – but most are not marriage proposals.

       Instead, people are interested in his popiah.

       The 50-year-old has plenty of new patrons, and now sells at least 100 springrolls by 2.30pm each day. Before last week, it would take him until about 4.30pm to sell that many.

       His runs his business from 9.30am in Jalan Johor, beside Padang Brown in Jalan Datuk Keramat.

       “I have not found my ‘Mrs Right’ yet, but business has been good,” said Tay.

       “I have had to turn away many customers who come after lunch hour. I believe many buy my popiah just to see what I look like.

       “And my mum has been scolding me for coming home early!” Tay said with a laugh.

       Tay’s sudden popularity began with his social media post in search of a soulmate.

       In the post uploaded onto a Penang-based Facebook group, he said he is looking for someone to spend the rest of his life with, promising that his future partner will “never live a life of hardship” and declaring that he has assets worth more than a million ringgit.However, it isn’t that there have been no takers for his offer.

       As at 2pm yesterday, Tay said he had received more than 30 calls from women all over the country, including two from Penang.

       A 33-year-old from Pulau Tikus has, in fact, agreed to go on a date with him next week.

       “Hopefully, things will turn out fine for me,” said Tay.

       He hopes to find a decent, single Malaysian woman aged between 35 and 40.

       Other callers, he said, were from Kedah, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Melaka.

       Over the years, Tay said he had gone on dates arranged by matchmakers but these never bore fruit.

       He claimed he had also posted matrimonial advertisements before.

       He believes it could be due to the perception that a hawker could not offer much as a status symbol.

       It was earlier reported that Tay had claimed that he is financially stable and owns properties on the island worth more than a million ringgit.

       His properties include landed terrace houses and flats, and also cash in the bank.

       He has given himself two more years to settle down.

       “If I still can’t find a wife, I will retire and let my sisters and their children inherit my properties.

       “These things are of no use to me. Who can I leave them to? If I still can’t find a wife, I am ready to retire and enjoy life,” he said.

       But first, he is just waiting for that date next week.