By MP for Punggol East SMC, Lee Li Lian
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 11 March 2015]
In the first 3 months in 2015, COE for category D hit a historic high of $5,800 at the second tender in Feb 2015.
At least 70% of 140,000 motorcycles are those not exceeding 200cc, corresponding to Class 2B riding license. I believe these high COE prices are being pulled up by bidding for more expensive and luxury motorcycles requiring Class 2A and Class 2 riding licenses. Motorcycle is a necessary tool for many low wage workers. Some of them hold jobs like despatch riders for courier companies or delivery riders for fast food companies.
We could consider splitting Category D into D1 for motorcycles not exceeding 200cc and D2 exceeding. As 65% of motorcycles registered in 2013 and 2014 are not exceeding 200cc, it can be estimated that the D1 category will have a quota of 1,111 total COEs for the months of February to April 2015. This is equivalent to Category C for goods vehicles and the open Category E, so we should not see price volatility for Class 2B riders and the riders can be protected from higher bids by Class 2 riders.
Alternatively, would it be possible for motorcycle owners to pay the COE by instalment, so as to lighten their financial burden?
我国路面上,十四万台电单车中,至少有七成是200cc或更小型的，是许多低收入者，赖以为生的工具。
电单车组（D组）的拥车证投标成价在今年飙升至超过五千元的历史新高，让他们非常担忧。我建议将D组分成D1和D2组，D1的配额可用于200cc或更小的电单车，D2的配额则用于超过200cc的电单车。这么一来需要小型电单车讨生活的低收入者就不必以高价格和大型电单车主争取拥车证。如果不能将D组分为两组，我就建议让成功标得拥车证的车主分期付款,减轻负担，谢谢。