Dear Singapore,

60 years ago, a dream was set in motion - not of comfort, but of courage. And in that courageous dream, birthed a nation carved from resilience. From kampungs to skyscrapers, shipyards to digital innovation, your journey has been one of constant transformation. Generations found hope where there was hardship, purpose where there was poverty, and a sense of belonging where life was once just about survival. Each step forward was a tribute to the pioneer spirit - immigrants, labourers, and dreamers who built more than just infrastructure; they built identity, unity, and a place we could all call home.

View of historic Singapore, 1951

19th Century trading boat entering South of Singapore

Many of these pioneers came from far and wide. The Malays, indigenous to the region, had long called this island home. The Chinese arrived from southern China - places like Fujian and Guangdong - seeking better lives amid hardship. Indians came from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Sri Lanka, contributing as traders, labourers, and administrators. And the Eurasians, of mixed European and Asian descent, brought with them a rich blend of cultures from Malacca, Goa, and beyond. Though they came from different lands, they were united by a shared spirit - to make a life, to build a future, and to find belonging on this island. They may have arrived speaking different languages, bearing different customs, but together they spoke the language of resilience. And it is this beautiful mosaic of cultures that gave Singapore its strength, its colour, and its soul.

Multi-racial immigrants and residents in Singapore, gathered together at an early Wayang theatre

My father's provision shop at 56, Lengkok Bahru, where I spent most of my childhood days delivering newspaper to the neighbourhood

My father was one of them. He arrived on your shores in 1946, just after the Japanese Occupation had ended - a time when Singapore was still healing from the wounds of war and bracing for an uncertain future. He came, like countless others, with calloused hands and quiet resolve - not to build a dream, but simply to survive each day. He found work where he could, sent what little he had home, and never imagined he was laying the bricks of a nation. But he was. He and his peers - dockworkers, rickshaw pullers, street vendors, and samsui women in their iconic red headscarves - became the unsung architects of your foundation. Their hands shaped roads, carried bricks, cooked meals, and nursed the sick. They laboured without expectation of recognition, holding you up with nothing more than grit and heart. As the decades unfolded, these pioneers used their skills and trades to shape the Singapore we know today. The carpenters built schools, the hawkers fed a nation, the tailors clothed generations, and the teachers nurtured young minds who would one day lead. Their quiet acts became strong threads of our nation's progress.

Artist impression of early years Samsui women at a construction site in Singapore

Singapore, your strength was never in your monuments. It was - and still is - in your people.

I was born in 1963, just before you gained independence - when your future was still unwritten, and hope was a fragile but persistent light. I've lived through your seasons of struggle and triumph. I remember the rawness of those early years: the water rationing, the makeshift playgrounds, the ever-present sense that everything could change in a moment. There were times of great uncertainty - communal tensions that shook our unity, and riots that tested the very fibre of our society. The fragility of harmony was deeply felt, and the need to heal, to trust, and to build bridges across our differences became urgent. Yet even in those moments of discord, the spirit of togetherness began to take root, slowly giving rise to the multicultural tapestry we proudly embrace today. Amidst it all, what never wavered was the leadership of our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his pioneering team. In the face of deep uncertainty, they laid out a bold and unshakable blueprint - one built not on race or rank, but on the unifying conviction that every citizen, regardless of race, language, or religion, had a role to play in shaping our destiny.

Artist impression of my personal artifacts collection of Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Mr Lee and his colleagues envisioned a Singapore founded on multiculturalism, meritocracy, and unity. These were not mere slogans - they became the pillars of our national identity. Under their stewardship, education was made accessible for all, allowing children of hawkers and labourers to dream of professions and possibilities once unimaginable. Public housing was transformed from necessity to pride, with the HDB programme giving Singaporeans roots and stability. Jobs were created across emerging industries, and an emphasis on clean governance and the rule of law attracted global investment. We became a hub of innovation and trust.

"I believe that life is a process of continuous change and a constant struggle to make that change one for the better."

The Wit and Wisdom of Lee Kuan Yew

From a vulnerable island with no natural resources, they turned Singapore into a thriving metropolis - not by chance, but by sheer will, design, and an unrelenting belief in the people.

I had the opportunity to represent Tiong Bahru Secondary School at the South Zone Secondary Schools oratorical contest

And because of that, I had a shot. Though I started with just O-levels, I was given the opportunity to enter Officer Cadet School - an experience that transformed my perspective on service and sacrifice. I later pursued a degree in Land Economics, and went on to serve 37 years in National Service - 13 as a regular and 24 as a reservist. Those years shaped me profoundly. They taught me that loyalty to country wasn't a grand declaration, but quiet perseverance. It was about waking up before dawn for training, writing letters home from overseas posting, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow Singaporeans from every walk of life. You never judged me for where I started. You simply asked if I was ready to serve, and if I was willing to grow. And in doing so, you gave me every chance to rise.

Certificate of Promotion Ceremony, March 1983

PropNex: A Story Built Together

Inspired by the wit and wisdom of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I embraced that same spirit when I co-founded PropNex in 2000. Born from the partnership of different real estate agencies coming together, PropNex was founded as a homegrown company - not rooted in inheritance or privilege, but in the shared conviction that honesty, grit, and heart could transform an industry. In those early days, we weren't just building a business; we were uniting agents who believed in raising standards, championing transparency, and putting clients first. We began with big hopes and a shared mission - to professionalise the real estate sector, to redefine service with integrity, and to help Singaporeans find not just houses, but homes.

Over 25 years, PropNex has grown into Singapore's largest listed real estate agency, with an agent strength of over 13,600 - a reflection not just of our market success, but of the trust placed in us by our clients, agents, and community. But our proudest achievement isn't our size - it's the over 1 million property transactions and journeys we've walked with our clients. Each transaction has a story: a young couple starting life together, a retiree downsizing for peace of mind, a family upgrading for a brighter future. In helping others secure their homes, we've found our own purpose and place in this nation's story.

This year, we mark two milestones together - your 60th birthday, and our 25th. And for us at PropNex, celebration must go hand-in-hand with gratitude.

So, we gave. Not out of surplus, but out of remembrance, appreciation, and thanksgiving.

PropNex pledges $6 million to Community Chest in celebration of SG60

We pledged $6 million to Community Chest as part of SG60 - not just as a donation, but as a declaration that we are here for those who need us most. Over the next three years, our commitment will continue with another $1.5 million annually, because standing with the vulnerable is not a one-time act - it's a responsibility we hold dear.

We established the $25 million PropNex Foundation to uplift generations to come - with education, empowerment, and empathy as our guiding light. This year, 160 students received the inaugural PropNex EduAward. Each recipient carries a story of determination, hope, and promise. And this annual award is more than just financial aid - it's our investment in the Singapore of tomorrow. It is our hope that these young minds will grow to become the leaders, changemakers, and dreamers of tomorrow.

At the PropNex Family Zone, Families for Life mascot Becky Bunny appears as a larger-than-life play structure with climbing elements and a slide. The space also includes a pair of 9m tall towers inspired by Gardens by The Bay's iconic Supertree

We built the PropNex Family Zone at Gardens by the Bay - a 64,000 sqft space co-created with Community Chest, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Families for Life Council, and Gardens by the Bay. It is Singapore's first family-themed playground with inclusive features for children of all ages and abilities. And this 6th and 7th September, we will be celebrating with a carnival that brings together families of all walks of life.

PropNex marching contingent, 2025, led by Agency Vice President Cijay Tew

This year, PropNex will once again be marching as a proud contingent in the National Day Parade. It is a moment that symbolises not just our growth as a company, but our place in the larger Singapore story. It is a profound honour to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow Singaporeans, representing the real estate industry as one of the key pillars of our nation's progress.

This year also marked a deeply personal milestone - I published "I Am Not Good Enough". The book was not written to showcase an individual journey, but to illuminate the invisible struggles, rejections, and quiet battles that often go unspoken. It is a heartfelt reflection on the moments that shaped me - and by extension, many others who walk the same path of doubt, determination, and self-discovery. My hope is that readers will find strength in its pages, and know that resilience is built one decision at a time. I wrote it to reach out to anyone who has ever doubted their worth, to offer not just a mirror of their struggles, but a window into what's possible. All proceeds from the book sales will go to charity - a gesture of gratitude to the community that stood by me and PropNex. It is a small way of paying forward the grace I have received. Thank you for making the book a national bestseller on launch week - your support means more than words can say.

Kelvin Fong, Chief Executive Officer, and Ismail Gafoor, Executive Chairman of PropNex

Singapore, you gave me more than opportunity. You gave me dignity. The freedom to try. The grace to fail. And the second chances to begin again. Everything I am - and everything PropNex has become - has been made possible because of your unwavering belief in people. This letter, then, is more than a tribute. It is a thank you. A pledge. A promise that we will continue building not just on your success, but on your soul - as we move forward together with the nation, working alongside Kelvin Fong as CEO and our dedicated management team to uphold the values and vision that brought us here.

Let us never forget those who lit the path before us - the pioneers whose sacrifices stitched the fabric of our nation. May we carry their torch with pride and humility, crafting a future not just richer in assets, but richer in heart.

It is now our turn to continue that legacy. To show up with courage, act with compassion, and lead with care.

Because in the end, what truly endures are not the accolades or skyscrapers, but the stories we write in the hearts of others.