Granted, a nation turning 60 isn’t the same as a person hitting the same milestone. One’s gearing up for the future, the other for retirement. Still, the parallels are hard to miss. Individually and as a country, there’s pride in how far things have come, despite a fair share of disappointments, inconveniences and setbacks.
Turning 60 for many is when retirement begins to feel real. The initial thought for some is relief that the daily grind will soon be over. After decades of hard work, and hopefully with the mortgage paid off, it’s natural to want to slow things down a notch and ponder the next chapter in life.
For Singapore, turning 60 is quite the opposite. Far from tapping the brakes, the Little Red Dot is charging full steam ahead. Construction of its fifth airport terminal started just a few months ago. Public housing flats are being built at their fastest pace since the pandemic. New train lines are rolling out while some existing ones are being extended. The two casino resorts are spending billions to add new attractions. The list goes on.
