Forum: COEs - Determining who gets priority can be complex
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
I refer to the letter “COEs – Introduce priority scheme for parents, the elderly” (Oct 31).
A certificate of entitlement (COE) priority scheme for families with young children, caregivers and the elderly undermines the purpose of controlling the car population.
There are many people, including me, with young children and elderly folk who don’t own a car and yet are able to continue our daily lives by taking taxis, public transport and private-hire cars.
It can be extremely difficult to determine who gets priority when it comes to COEs. Should it be for those who live in private properties and can probably afford a car? Should this priority be extended to those who live in HDB flats only? What about single elderly folk who have mobility issues in taking public transport? It’s a cycle that can fuel resentment between the haves and the have-nots.
The free-market approach to COEs allows citizens to make choices based on their individual needs and preferences. Those who truly value car ownership and are willing to pay the premium for it can do so.
Sim Joo Geok
