If the uncle is in the 50's or 60's, it mean he was born around the early years of merdeka. During that time, if you have standard 6 education is already considered as educated. Some never even go to school or drop out after a year or two. If you study until Form 5, you're equivalent to studying until getting Masters today. A lot of people especially Malay do not realise that there are Chinese and Indians who belongs to these category of people. Their family is as poor as a lot of kampung Malays and they suffered terribly during the communist insurgency period. A lot of them were moved to new villages and survived without really interacting with other races because everything they need is available in their villages. You'll be surprised that some of them can't even read Chinese or speak Mandarin. All they know is just a dialect. Since, they are poorly educated, the lack confidence if they try to speak other languages such as BM or English. It's just like some Malays in kampung. They do not need to learn any other languages because whatever they need is in their kampung and they do not need to interact with other races at all.

Try visiting one of the Chinese new villages and you'll find a lot of such uncles and aunties there. Places like Jinjang, Sri Kembangan, Sg. Way, etc.

The village is self sufficient. Food and sundries are all available without even need to step out from the villages.

If they need to go out, their children will go with them and they will settle everything.