Sri Lanka was better than Singapore when Singapore achieved independence but today Sri Lanka is bankrupt.
Singapore has one of the few good governments left in the world but probably also little appreciated. The government could have easily implemented populist policies to make themselves popular (and stay in power) but they didn't because it is more important to them, to build a thriving Singapore than to make themselves popular. So sometimes they do unpopular but necessary things at the risk of losing votes or being voted out of government even.
The Opposition in Singapore offers populist alternatives like FREE transport, no GST hike, take from reserves instead. Also, take from only a small group of people. Tax only the wealthy.
You can't run a country this way. You cannot lay the burden of tax on a small group of people while the rest of the population just piggy ride on the benefits. You don't have a social compact this way that can hold people together to move forward as one cohesive people.
