Singapore at 60: A manicured, choreographed masterclass in nation-building

On August 9, 2025, Singapore turns 60. An accidental state that few expected to survive — let alone thrive — now stands as one of the most remarkable stories of nation-building in modern history. What began as an unexpected, resource-poor island with deep ethnic fissures has become a clean, green, highly functioning, globally respected city-state. But even as it celebrates this extraordinary success, it is worth pausing to reflect: what made Singapore possible, and what might the next 60 years demand?

The Singapore story is often compressed into the towering figure of Lee Kuan Yew (LKY). That is not without reason. LKY was visionary, relentless, and unafraid to lead from the front. He forged Singapore. But history, in its fuller telling, seldom belongs to one man. LKY had some extraordinary individuals who were indispensable to Singapore’s success, who from healthcare to housing to transport and talent, made countless wide-ranging contributions to the Republic.

Individually, men of conviction, they brought complementary talents to the table. Led by LKY, actively supported by the people, they laid the foundation of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and a vigorous Singapore — a vision that was not inevitable in a post-colonial world brimming with majoritarian temptations. That leadership — collaborative, firm, and ideal-driven — must not be lost on students of history.

Shortly after I arrived in Singapore to take up my post, an important international guest asked me a disarming question: “High Commissioner, how do you describe Singapore?” Caught a little off-guard, I replied, almost instinctively: “Manicured and choreographed.” Since that day, I have returned to that phrase often — because it denotes the essence of Singapore society.

Even after my formal posting as high commissioner ended, I remained engaged with Singaporean institutions until the end of 2017. Those years offered me a deeper window into the Singapore story — one I observed not only through official dealings, but through society, policy, education, urban design, and everyday culture.

Often described as ‘clean,’ it is the most superficial explanation for its character. Cleanliness in Singapore is not just aesthetic; it is an outcome of civic discipline, institutional rigour, and public education. Cleanliness is not about fear of fines, but pride in community. It demonstrates a mindset — of order, of shared space, of collective accountability.

Singapore is manicured — not just in the pristine layout of its parks, the sculpted edges of its skyline, or the meticulous zoning of its neighbourhoods. It is manicured in the way the state and society have nurtured excellence: from hawker centres to hospitals, public housing to botanical gardens, transport systems to classrooms. There is precision. There is intent. There is pride in the ordinary.

By insisting on allowing Housing and Development Board (HDB) housing only on ownership basis LKY made Singaporeans stakeholders in growth and success of the nation. The Electronic Road Pricing – the first in the world - brings order into commuting.

Singapore’s education system, especially, is a quiet force. Its schools are inclusive yet aspirational, and its universities rank among the world’s best. The investment in human capital is evident not just in test scores, but in the confidence of its young people. Knowledge, not slogans, drive progress.

Diplomatically, Singapore punches well above its weight. It has produced statesmen and women of distinction — articulate, respected, and often consulted far beyond Southeast Asia. Whether in regional trade, global finance, or international law, Singapore’s voice carries weight because it is backed by consistency, competence and integrity.

Singapore is choreographed — not in the sense of mechanical conformity, but of harmonious functioning. Things move in Singapore with rhythm and reason. Even the way cars are parked — nose-out, ready to move — suggests preparedness, anticipation, and civic mindfulness. Public service operates with seamless efficiency. The public transport – manicured and choreographed. Bureaucracy is lean, competent, and based on integrity. There is very little waste — of time, talent, or trust.

So, the question is not whether Singapore has succeeded. It has — by every empirical measure. The real question, at 60, is: given the challenges, what kind of society does it want to be going forward?

In Singapore, almost everything works. But the highest goal of a society is not just functioning — it is flourishing. The people who laid the foundations of Singapore did so with conviction, clarity, and courage. Their legacy deserves not just celebration, but continuation — adapted to the challenges of a more complex, more fluid, and more demanding future.

As it navigates global uncertainty, Singapore’s focus should shift towards nurturing a society that is not only efficient, but also compassionate and creatively engaged, ensuring that prosperity is widely shared and rooted in fairness. That is not a call to undo the past — but to build upon it, to ensure that the remarkable manicuring and choreography of the physical also nourishes the emotional and the ethical.

Having been trained there, Dubai’s own early economic leadership team modelled its growth on Singapore - visionary and futuristic - and it shows.

Let Singapore’s 60th not just mark a milestone, but a meditation. What does it mean to be a great country? And how does it remain one — in ways that touch both the head and the heart?

Sajjad Ashraf served as an adjunct professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore from 2009 to 2017. He was a member of Pakistan Foreign Service from 1973 - 2008, and was Pakistan’s high commissioner to Singapore from 2004 to 2008