GIVING HIMSELF A SECOND CHANCE
Amid the pandemic, volunteers from Architects of Life – which Chiong had already been in touch with – suggested starting walking tours led by ex-convicts. He was on board.
But getting his tour guide licence in 2023 would prove to be another hurdle, with just a Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) certificate.
“It was a nightmare, because I didn’t go through proper secondary school education. I really didn’t know any history about Singapore’s development, sustainability, future development, water plan, places of worship, places of interest. Everything was (new to me),” he recalled.
“In this period of seven to eight months, I gathered as much information as I could, summarised them, compiled them, put into my brain. I don’t know how I made it.”
Yet he did. At 52 years old, “I finally started to learn about my Singapore and appreciate my country, the place I call home, and appreciate what the leaders have done for our little red dot”, he said.
Even after 16 years out of prison, Chiong still can’t quite believe he has come “this far”, and credits his turnaround to the people around him. He advises those still serving their sentence to “look for the right support group, draw energy from them when you are weak, and when you have extra ammunition, contribute back”.
What he won’t dole out are platitudes like “if I can make it happen, you also can”, he said. “Because what if they cannot make it? … I will say I’m giving myself a chance every now and then, so why not give yourself one?”
