Singapore
Singapura
Independence day

August 9
2025

By : Adharta
Chairman of
KRIS

All my Singapore KRIS Friends
Family and fellows

Please accept my congratulations

Great and Luck

A Journey Through Resilience

Singapore’s Story and a Personal Bond
By Adharta Ongkosaputra

On 9 August each year, the red and white of the Singapore flag unfurls proudly across the island, its crescent moon and stars gleaming against the tropical sky. It is a day that marks not only the birth of a nation in 1965, but the triumph of human determination, foresight, and unity. For Singapore, independence was not handed on a silver platter; it was forged in the crucible of hardship, scarcity, and uncertainty.

Today, Singapore stands as one of the world’s most successful city-states
a beacon of progress, stability, and innovation.

For me, however, Singapore’s story is not only the tale of a nation; it is also deeply personal. Since 1980,

I have crossed the narrow stretch of sea between Indonesia and this island nation countless times, drawn by the quiet promise of care, professionalism, and trust at Mount Elizabeth Hospital. Over the decades, my visits have taken me to both its Orchard and Novena locations, bringing me into close contact with a world-class medical institution and its dedicated people. And in October 2024, Singapore became the setting for one of the most defining chapters of my own life
my third heart surgery, performed by the steady and expert hands of Dr. Niko Wanahita at Mount Elizabeth Novena.

The Birth of a Nation Against the Odds

To understand the significance of Singapore’s National Day, one must first return to the turbulent mid-20th century.

On 9 August 1965, Singapore found itself unexpectedly thrust into independence after a brief and uneasy merger with Malaysia. The separation was painful and uncertain; Singapore had no natural resources to speak of, a fragile economy, and a population of diverse ethnicities, languages, and religions
any of which could have splintered the young nation from within.

Under the leadership of its founding Prime Minister,
Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore embraced a vision of unity and discipline. Every decision was made with long-term resilience in mind: investment in education, housing, infrastructure, and, crucially, integrity in governance. The transformation that followed over the next decades was nothing short of extraordinary.

Where once stood swamps and overcrowded shophouses, there rose modern skyscrapers, meticulously planned housing estates, and bustling commercial districts. Singapore became a global hub for trade, finance, and technology a place where meritocracy was not just a principle but a living reality.

A City That Welcomes the World

My own first encounter with Singapore came fifteen years after its independence, in 1980. By then, the island had already begun to display the fruits of its transformation: clean streets, efficient public transportation, and an atmosphere of quiet order that contrasted sharply with many cities in the region.

But my purpose in visiting was not sightseeing
it was medical. That year, I sought treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Orchard, which had already gained a reputation as a premier healthcare facility in Southeast Asia. I remember the polished floors, the hushed efficiency of the nurses, and the quiet confidence of the doctors. It was here that I first understood one of Singapore’s most remarkable strengths: its ability to blend the warmth of personal care with the precision of world-class professionalism.

Over the years,
I returned many times sometimes for routine checkups, sometimes for more serious treatments.
Also performs my business over the country
I came to know members of the hospital’s management, particularly at Parkway, who greeted me not just as a patient, but as a long-standing friend.

Singapore’s medical system, much like the nation itself, runs on the twin engines of efficiency and empathy
a combination that is as rare as it is valuable.

The Philosophy of Excellence

Singapore’s success was never accidental.

It is the product of meticulous planning and a culture that prizes excellence at every level. Whether in its ports, its airports, its educational institutions, or its hospitals, the nation refuses to settle for mediocrity.

Mount Elizabeth Hospital, in many ways, mirrors Singapore’s national ethos. The facility continually updates its technology, attracts top-tier specialists from around the globe, and maintains an unwavering commitment to patient welfare. It is this culture of relentless improvement that gave me confidence each time I entrusted my health to their care.

October 2024: A Test of Courage

Yet nothing in my previous visits compared to the experience of October 2024. By then, I had already undergone two heart surgeries in my life.

The thought of a third was daunting not merely because of the physical risks, but because of the emotional weight such a procedure carries.

When I entered Mount Elizabeth Novena that month, I was not just another patient. I was a man facing his own mortality, and the stakes had never felt higher. Yet, from the moment I met Dr. Niko Wanahita,
I knew I was in the right place. His calm demeanor, precise explanations, and clear command of his field instilled in me a deep trust.

The surgery was long and complex, but it was a success. In the days that followed, as I lay in the quiet recovery room with the city’s skyline visible through the window, I thought about how far I had come
not only in terms of my health, but in the decades-long relationship I had built with this remarkable city. Singapore had once again been my refuge, my place of healing.

Lessons from a Nation’s Journey

It is tempting to see Singapore’s current prosperity as inevitable, but it was anything but. In its early years, the nation faced high unemployment, limited land, and a lack of natural resources. Yet, through strategic thinking and the cultivation of human capital, it not only survived
it thrived.

For someone like me, who has witnessed its transformation across four decades, the parallels between the nation’s resilience and my own medical journey are striking.

Both are stories of confronting challenges head-on, of refusing to yield to fear, and of finding strength in preparation and trust.

The Spirit of National Day

National Day in Singapore is not just a display of military parades, fireworks, and cultural performances
though those are spectacular in their own right. It is a celebration of unity, of shared purpose, and of the belief that no obstacle is insurmountable when a people stand together.

For me, it is also a reminder of the bond I share with this city-state. Every time the national anthem, Majulah Singapura, plays, I am reminded not only of Singapore’s journey from vulnerability to strength, but also of the personal sanctuary it has been for me in times of need.

Looking Forward

As Singapore steps into the future, it faces new challenges: an aging population, global economic shifts, and the unpredictable forces of technology and geopolitics. Yet, given its track record, I have no doubt it will continue to adapt and lead.

For my part,
I remain grateful for the care I have received, for the friendships formed, and for the quiet reassurance that Singapore’s lights will continue to shine brightly across the waters. My own journey is intertwined with this nation’s, and every 9 August, as the fireworks bloom above Marina Bay,

I will celebrate not just Singapore’s independence, but the resilience that we both share.

Adharta

Www.kris.or.id

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