The government has refuted claims that the Automated Enforcement Summons (AES) system, which went live with 14 speed cameras in Sept 12, will enrich crony companies.

NONE Replying during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today, Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri ( right ) said that the companies, ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, had won the bid through an open tender involving seven other companies.

"Nine companies offered their services, and seven were tested....in several ways, including live demonstrations and competency tests," he said.

He was replying to Dr Lee Boon Chye (PKR-Gopeng) who asked how much ATES concessionaires AES and Beta Tegap will earn once the system is implemented in full with 1,000 cameras installed.

"This is a lucrative system and we know that sitting on ATES' board of directors is Chee Chwee Cheong, who is linked to Ethos Consulting, headed by the prime minister's former special officer Omar Mustapha (Ong)," Lee said.

Censuring Lee for trying to "create a perception", Abdul Rahim said that the intentions of the AES is "noble" as it aims to reduce road accidents and deaths on the road.

More than 60,000 pictures snapped

The deputy minister said that between Sept 12 to 30, a total of 63,558 images have been recorded by the AES system but no summons have been issued yet.

"After a picture is taken, it is sent to the Road Transport Department, which will determine, based on the picture, if an offence was committed. Only then will a summons is issued," he said.

fong po kuan and chong chien jen walkout suspended from parliament 061108 04 Replying to Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) ( right ), he also refuted that the AES is a profit-making venture which will victimise road users, as the summons are issued by the JPJ and not the concessionaires.

He also said that motorists will be warned of the speed cameras by way of signages two to three kilometres before the area where the camera is located.

He added that the concessionaires will profit through a three-step formula:

  • RM16 for each summons up to five million summons;
  • 50 percent of the summons value for the remainder, up to RM270 million a year;
  • 7.5 percent of the summons revenue for the remainder of the revenue.

He said that this formula was based on a 17 percent rate of return after considering a likelihood of reduction of summons following a change of behaviour in motorists and vandalism to the cameras.

"This system works. For example 50 pictures were snapped in the first three days at the 26th kilometre at Jalan Ipoh to Sungai Siput, but now the number is zero," he said.

He added that the government opted to outsource the system so it would not have to foot the cost of maintenance.

Abdul Rahim said that the target was to bring the perception of being caught to 75 to 90 percent, as opposed to 25 percent presently.

‘Is there an exit clause?’

“International studies found that fatal accidents were reduced by up to 71 percent, while accidents in general were cut by 40 percent with an electronic (summons) system, so we hope to meet these standards,” he said.

In a written reply to Fong on the same matter, Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha said that further details about the concessions agreement cannot be disclosed as they are “secret”.

The minister added that the fee paid to the concessionaires was a “service fee” and not a “commission” on the summons paid.

“I was hoping for more details, like whether there was an exit clause if we find that accident rates have not dropped, as this shows the AES is not working,” Fong told Malaysiakini .

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