Letter from Steve Tan Peng Hoe, Straits Times Forum 27 Nov 07
MANY months ago, I wrote to this Forum with several suggestions for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to consider.
One of my suggestions was to allow diesel cars on the road, given that diesel was easier to refine, and the latest-generation diesel engines emit less pollutants.
All these months, car manufacturer after car manufacturer have rolled out turbo-diesel variants of their new cars. All have proclaimed that this was a viable solution to balancing car ownership with environmental concerns.
Surely, there must be a basis for all the car manufacturers to make such a claim?
Could the LTA, therefore, review again the possibility of allowing diesel cars on the road without punitive taxes?
Given that Asean has just ratified a constitution that has a keen focus on environmental concerns, Singapore as the country holding the chairmanship should lead in this area where there is all to gain and little to lose.
Diesel cars allowed on roads but tax higher
Reply by NEA and LTA, Straits Times Forum 7 Dec 07;
WE THANK Mr Steve Tan Peng Hoe for his letter, 'Time to allow diesel cars on the road' (ST, Nov 27).
We would like to clarify that diesel-driven cars are allowed on Singapore roads. However, they are taxed more because they emit significantly more pollutants which will damage the environment and human health to a greater extent than petrol-driven vehicles.
We recognise that significant advances have been made in diesel-engine technology that have helped to improve emissions from diesel vehicles considerably. Therefore, in recognition of the cleaner Euro IV diesel engines, the special tax for Euro IV diesel passenger cars was reduced from six to four times their road tax with effect from Jan 1 last year.
The Government will continue to review the tax structure for diesel passenger cars as more stringent emission standards are implemented.
Tan Quee Hong
Acting Director
Pollution Control Department
National Environment Agency
Suhana Kharudin (Ms)
Manager
Media Relations
Land Transport Authority
