Jamus’ Need-Based COE is Morally Loud But Structurally Silent
Singapore’s Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system often attracts strong reactions, particularly when premiums spike. In land scarce Singapore, the COE system is a hard cap on vehicle population and not just a pricing mechanism. Without it, traffic congestion would overwhelm our infrastructure, and mobility for everyone would suffer. Recently, Jamus Lim criticised the approach that […]
How Collaboration, Not Confrontation, Shaped the Cross Island Line: a Lesson in Civil-Government Partnership
The Cross Island Line is more than just a transportation milestone. It stands as a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when government and civil society engage sincerely, listen respectfully, and commit to a long-term partnership. Through trust and collaboration, even the most complex and contentious decisions can be shaped in the public interest. […]
No, Jeffrey Siow Didn’t Say “Plebs Shouldn’t Own Cars”
Chris Kuan recently responded to remarks made by Jeffrey Siow, the Acting Minister for Transport, on car ownership in Singapore, in a way that is clearly intended to feed resentment. So what exactly did Jeffrey Siow say? “If you had one COE left to allocate, is it better to allocate it to a private car […]
Number of adults using SimplyGo continue to increase even after LTA’s announcement to extend use of ezlink cards
Since LTA’s announcement on 22 January 2024 that LTA would extend the CBT (card-based ticketing) system for adult commuters till at least 2030, the proportion of adult commuters using SimplyGo has continued to increase, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat revealed in Parliament (5 Feb 2024) In December 2023, 41% of adult commuters were using bank […]
NTWU partners Temasek Foundation to distribute more than 20,000 oximeters to transport workers
The National Transportation Workers’ Union (NTWU) has partnered with Temasek Foundation to distribute more than 20,000 oximeters to the transport workers to encourage them to monitor their health regularly, and at the same time, express their recognition of their efforts as frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. An oximeter is a portable device that can […]
$1 Grab fee hike…Is it a boon or a bane for drivers?
After news of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) broke, it is almost as if we could hear an audible sigh from our taxi and private-car hire drivers. Many of them must have thoughts of “not again” going through their minds after the announcement was made. Shortly after the news was announced, various initiatives were announced to […]
HSR project terminated; Malaysia to compensate Singapore
The HSR (High-Speed Rail) project between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur has been terminated after both sides failed to reach an agreement on the changes proposed by Malaysia. Singapore and Malaysia signed the Kuala Lumpur – Singapore High-Speed Rail Bilateral Agreement (BA) in 2016. Construction of the HSR Project was subsequently suspended, from September 2018 to […]
Generous driver relief fund of $600 a month for taxi and PHV drivers next year
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going – with a little help from a relief fund. Private hire vehicle drivers, and taxi drivers like Mr Ho Seng Huat who continue to be financially impacted by the pandemic can look forward to a more generous relief fund next year, LTA said in a news […]
Disappointment as Travel Bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong is deferred one day before launch
Travellers looking forward to their flights are deeply disappointed. The much-awaited Air Travel Bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong, due to be launched tomorrow, is now deferred for 2 weeks. This is due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. This shows just how fluid the situation can be with COVID-19. Things don’t […]
From one aviation hub to another: welcome Hong Kong!
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung was happy to announce the launch of a reciprocal Air Travel Bubble with Hong Kong. The first flights will depart on 22 November with 200 ‘bubble travellers’ both ways. This Air Travel Bubble is the first of its kinds for a number of reasons. Between 2 Aviation Hubs It is […]