CERTIFICATE OF ENTITLEMENT (Change to balloting system)

Dr Lau Teik Soon asked the Minister for Communications whether the bidding system for Certificates of Entitlement will be replaced by a balloting system whereby (i) only gainfully employed and certain categories of persons, for example, handicapped persons, who do not own cars can apply; (ii) each person can only have one COE for a 10-year period so that if he sells the car, he will not be eligible to apply for a COE until after the 10-year period; (iii) those with a current COE will be allowed an extension beyond the expiry date, depending on the age of the COE; and (iv) a successful applicant will have to pay a fee of $10,000.