The government has no plan to stop the installation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras at 831 locations nationwide.

Instead, Deputy Transport Minister Abd Rahim Bakri said the installation of the AES cameras would continue to be implemented as part of the holistic effort to reduce the road accident rate in the country.

"At present, the average daily death toll is 19 and the average annual number of road accidents is 448,000, while the social costs borne by the government is not less than RM9 billion a year.

"If no drastic measures be taken to address this, it is feared that the situation will worsen," he said when winding up the debate on 2013 Supply Bill for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat here today.

The system, which was launched for its trial period from Sept 23, had so far captured 63,558 images of traffic offences nationwide.

Abd Rahim explained that the needs for the implementation of the system had been studied in detail with the cooperation from the relevant agencies, including the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, the Economic Planning Unit and experts from local universities.

He also stressed that the initiative was being practised and proven effective in 92 other countries across the world.

The implementation of the system was questioned by several Barisan Nasional backbenchers, as well as members of the opposition, during the debate today.

Some of them even proposed to the government to postpone and to review the implementation of the system.

- Bernama

 

100 demonstrate against AES in Ipoh