A second chance at life means a great deal to ex-convicts.
Most of them are often concerned about finding a job and rebuilding their lives after they get out of jail. This does not come easy for them as well, with many employers sceptical about hiring ex-offenders.
However, luckily, that was not the case for Lin Dao Cheng.
From Ex-Convict To Bak Kut Teh Shop Supervisor
Lin was released from prison eight years ago, and he had absolutely no idea where to go next.
He had previously been a runner for illegal moneylending services, and he was also found guilty of causing hurt with a weapon.
“The longest jail term I’ve had was 10 years and 24 strokes of the cane. I had chopped someone’s hand,” he said to Lianhe Zaobao.
With not many options, he turned to the Christian Gospel Drug Rehabilitation Halfway Home and he met a staff there who asked him if he wanted to work.
“Of course I wanted a job, but was it possible to find one? I’m tattooed all over, who would want to hire me?” he said at that point.
Now, eight years later, he is happily employed at Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh and even got trained to be a supervisor.
So, How Did He Get The Job?
The staff at the rehabilitation home got him an interview opportunity with the founder of Soon Huat Bak Kut Teh, Jabez Tan.
Lin did not have high hopes, especially after he arrived at the F&B outlet for an interview, but was told that Tan was busy and would call him later.
“Asking me to go home and wait for a phone call is the same as telling me you’re not going to hire me,” Lin recalled how discouraged he felt that day.
However, he did end up getting the job and worked at Soon Huat for four years before he got promoted to be a supervisor overseeing the Jalan Kayu branch.
He got into a fight soon afterwards and had to go back to jail for a few months, but he went back to Tan and asked for a job once again when he got out.
Owner Was An Ex-Convict Himself
Jabez Tan was actually an ex-convict himself, and he spent a total of almost 13 years in prison.
He was mainly involved in gang and drug-related activities.
He was released in 2002 and opened the first Soon Huat outlet in Jalan Kayu in 2011.
He eventually went on to open more outlets, and there are currently three eateries under the Soon Huat name.
Having been through such a tough path, Tan understands the struggles that ex-convicts face, which is why he is committed to providing them with an opportunity to turn their lives around.
In fact, 40 per cent of the staff working at Soon Huat are ex-convicts, low-income residents, or single mums.
The restaurant won the “Annual Start-up Social Enterprise Award” of the first Presidential Challenge Social Enterprise Award in 2012, and the “Annual Social Enterprise Recognition Award” in 2017.
Lin is extremely grateful to Tan for constantly giving him opportunities, and he expressed his gratitude for Tan’s generosity in giving ex-convicts second chances.
“I’ve walked the same path. Although Lin has been in and out of prison, I’m willing to give him multiple chances, and hope that he won’t go back to his old ways,” said Tan.
“Although he’s heavily tattooed, the customers accept him and react positively. I’m prepared to train him again so that he can become a supervisor.”
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