Payoh by Jim Tan

In a writing workshop at Changi Prison, retired professor JG Chan encounters a story written by inmate Alphonsus Goh. ‘Payoh’ tells the adventures of a sulphur-crested cockatoo named Lucky who finds his way to a protected bird sanctuary.

Conflict soon ensues, and the sanctuary birds decide it’s time to gain autonomy from their human-watchers. They must form a small team of leaders to govern their newly independent sanctuary.

However, skeptics and detractors also exist within ...