Blast from the past: A candid shot of an ice cream man in 1960 Singapore has resurfaced online

In his first New Year’s Day speech to Singapore back in 1960, the nation’s founding father, the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said, “Through hard work, faith, and a little good fortune, may 1960 bring more happiness to more of us.”

The year held a lot of promise for Singapore, as the years leading up to 1960 were marked by the struggle for freedom and independence. Malaya’s independence came in 1958 together with London’s State of Singapore Act.

The following year, in 1959, the nation held its first General Election. Though the results put Lee Kuan Yew in the seat of Prime Minister, he refused to take on the role until other elected politicians who were imprisoned for insurrection were released and allowed to assume their political roles. Only then did Mr Lee assume his leadership role and launch Singapore forward, pushing it further into its journey towards becoming one of the richest countries in the world.

The nation has come a long way since its fight for independence. Now, it has become a world leader despite its size. Not only is it a leader in the realm of international politics, but it is also an economic heavyweight.

Even in the pandemonium of the Covid-19 pandemic, the nation held its ground against the invisible threat and managed to get a grip on the fight against the virus. Nations around the world even looked up to the small nation as an example.