Instead of overcomplicating COE system, Govt has ensured affordable transport for all: SM Lee to Jamus Lim

Complicating the certificate of entitlement (COE) system by having it account for the needs and circumstances of different groups may render it unworkable, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on July 16.

- Tham Yuen-C

Instead, the Government has ensured that everyone has access to affordable and efficient transport, even if they do not own a car, he added. And those who need more assistance, such as families with young children, are helped directly, such as through grants which can go towards paying for a COE.

SM Lee was responding to a Facebook post by Workers' Party MP Jamus Lim (Sengkang GRC), who said that the COE bidding system does not account for those who may genuinely need to own a car.

Associate Professor Lim added in his July 16 post that relying on market forces may not be the best way to adjudicate between the competing needs of different groups.

He was commenting on what SM Lee said at a dialogue on July 15 at the Economic Society of Singapore's (ESS) annual dinner.

ESS president Euston Quah, who was moderating the dialogue, had asked SM Lee about calls to let some groups pay less for COEs.

Responding, SM Lee said there were many "good arguments" for why certain groups are more deserving of a car.