Time to remove COE for taxis

September 17, 2011

Straits Times Forum

17 Sep 2011

GIVEN the sky-high prices and shrunken supply of certificates of entitlement (COEs), I would like to suggest that COE bidding for taxis be reviewed.

This is because with a growing population fuelling the demand for more taxis, all stakeholders may continue to suffer higher COE prices, which may lead to higher rentals for taxi drivers, higher fares for commuters, and so on.

Why continue to have a transport policy that requires taxis to compete for COEs with other car owners?

If we remove the COE altogether for taxis, fares may drop and this could encourage more car owners to give up driving.

Leong Sze Hian

About the Author

Leong

Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications.