Former gang member who now leads Chinatown tours of his former haunts: ‘I’m giving myself a chance’

GIVE YOURSELF A SECOND CHANCE

In the midst of the pandemic, Architects of Life volunteers, with whom Chiong had already been in contact, suggested starting walking tours led by ex-convicts. He was on board.

But getting a tour guide license in 2023 would be another hurdle, with just a Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) certificate.

“It was a nightmare, because I didn’t get a proper secondary education. I didn’t really 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 that period of seven to eight months, I gathered all the information I could, summarized it, compiled it, put it in my brain. I don’t know how I did it.”

Still he did. At 52, “I finally started to learn about my Singapore and to appreciate my country, the place I call home, and to appreciate what the leaders have done for our little red dot,” he said.

Even after 16 years out of prison, Chiong still can’t believe he’s come “this far,” and credits the people around him for his change. He advises those still serving their sentences to “find the right support group, draw energy from them when you’re weak, and when you have extra ammunition, contribute.”

What he won’t dish out are platitudes like “if I can do it, so can you,” he said. “Why and if they can’t? … I’ll say I’m giving myself a chance every now and then, so why not give yourself one?